ABSTRACT
Objective:
to understand nurse technicians' experience with caring for the death of terminal patients in ICUs and to configure a theoretical model.
Method:
qualitative study with theoretical saturation when analyzing the 10th non-directive interview, having as reference Grounded Theory, Symbolic Interactionism and Bioethics.
Results:
the core category - from frustration to coping with dignified nursing care for finitude: the acceptance of death as a therapeutic and intervenient component - emerged from the comparison of the sub-processes: when the nurse does not feel prepared for caring for death, accepting death as a therapeutic phenomenon and developing coping strategies.
Conclusion:
according to Symbolic Interactionism, a novice professional's frustration in caring for an individual for death is related to his/her interaction and interpretation of the situation as he/she feels prepared only to care for individuals for life.
Key words:
Death; Nursing Care; Intensive Care Units