Abstract
This study examined specific nursing care activities done by ICU nurses for family members of dying patients. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Inclusion criteria were over 5 years of clinical experience, over 3 years of ICU clinical experience and currently assuming leadership roles. Twenty ICU nurses who met the inclusion criteria and gave their written consent were asked about the nursing care activities they had done for the family members of patients greeting death in the ICU. Analysis revealed 10 categories: assisting them to perceive patient conditions as they are; understanding their critical psychological distress and helping them to cope with the unforeseen situation; assisting them in spending time with the unconscious patient; building relationships with them during a short period of time; conveying a sense of security to them; supporting them not to regret the death of the patient in the ICU; making the ICU a suitable place for attending the patient’s deathbed; protecting patient dignity; making arrangements among family members; and acting as advocates on behalf of them. The findings suggest that ICU nurses take measures appropriate to the situation and devise ways to deal with difficulties they may encounter in the ICU, and that the nursing care activities identified be verbalized, shared with other nurses and integrated into practice.
