NURS 3046 Nursing Project Assignment 1 (2,000 words 45%)
Please do not change the template
Please note:
2,000 words includes the in-text references but excludes the citation and Reference List.
Introduction
Providing end-of-life care for patients who are dying and their families is recognized as being one of the most stressful but potentially rewarding experiences for nurses (Efstathiou & Walker 2014). The death of a patient is an outcome that nurses can expect to encounter in their clinical practice. Death can occur in any setting such as neonatal units, emergency departments, intensive care units, and the community (Kain 2013; Hinderer 2012). Nurses are called on to provide end-of-life care to deteriorating patients of all ages and effective support to their families, within a therapeutic relationship (NMBA 2016; van der Riet, Pitt & Blyton 2014). There is extensive research on the experiences of patients approaching death and bereaved families (Hinderer 2012), but less is known about how nurses who care for such patients effectively manage their loss and grief experiences and sustain their resilience (van der Riet, Pitt & Blyton 2014). Providing end-of-life care for patients who are dying can be demanding for nurses, but hospice and palliative care nurses usually receive organizational and emotional support to cope with death and grief. However, there is lack of support for nurses in intensive care units (ICU) that can negatively affect their grief experiences (Espinosa et al. 2010). If poorly managed, grief can cause stress, burnout and negatively affect work performance, optimal patient care and retention (Coetzee & Klopper 2010; Yoder 2010). Clinicians who experience burnout are more likely to depersonalize their patients, such as referring to them as their disease (Bauer-Wu & Fontaine 2015).
Research Question:
What are nurses’ experiences, beliefs and coping strategies when providing end-of-life care for patients and their families in the intensive care setting?
The research question is highly significant in clinical practice because nurses’ experiences and coping strategies related to patient death can provide insight to how they manage their emotions as they provide person-centred care for patients and their families (NMBA 2016). Findings could inform strategies that target audiences such as nurse leaders and managers could implement to strengthen supportive ICU work environments in which nurses provide care. Findings could also be used by nurse educators to integrate end-of-life care and self-care strategies into the nursing curriculum to raise undergraduate nursing students’ awareness about the importance of developing coping strategies to effectively manage their emotions and grief (van der Riet, Pitt & Blyton 2014). The research question is therefore highly relevant to clinical practice and has wider implications for the health and wellbeing of nurses, the nursing profession, healthcare organisations, and quality care for patients and their families.
SummarY ANALYSIS of Four (4) Primary Research Articles
(1200 words)
Select four (4) primary research articles (from the 8 articles provided) that provides relevant evidence to answer the research question. Write a 300 words summary of each primary research article using the three step format learned in Topic 2.
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4
Discussion
(600 words)
Compare and contrast the findings of the four (4) primary research articles using the approach learned in Topic 3. Ensure the analysis explains how the findings answer the research question. Identify any existing gaps in knowledge or practice. Discussion may be supported by additional relevant literature.
Conclusion
(150 - 200 words)
Summarise the major points in a non-repetitive manner, discuss future directions for research.