Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Terminally child life: perceptions and feelings of nurses

Abstract

Objective

To understand the perceptions and feelings of professional nurses towards death and the dying process of children.

Methodology

qualitative and exploratory, based on thematic categories. The participants were seven nurses of the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of a general hospital in the Northwest region of the Rio Grande do Sul (One of the Brazilian States). Data were collected through open questions in the period from February to March 2013 and were submitted to analysis by rating, sorting and final data analysis.

Results

There has been difficulty for nurses to accept, confront and assimilate the finiteness of child life. It was also observed that nurse care is fundamental in those moments of end-of-life.

Conclusion

The results show the lack of emotional preparedness of nurses and the lack of assistance, be it in the academic training or in continued education, as well as the lack of therapeutical support to deal with the situation in health care institutions.

Death; Child; Family; Nursing; The intensive care unit

Conselho Federal de Medicina SGAS 915, lote 72, CEP 70390-150, Tel.: (55 61) 3445-5932, Fax: (55 61) 3346-7384 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: bioetica@portalmedico.org.br