Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate how and why nurses intuit the time of death of the child. By analyzing interviews of twenty-five pediatric nurses, it was discovered that they intuit the time of the death by observing charges in both the physical condition and the actions of the child. Although many nurses could make their assessments by observing a child's physical condition, fewer could make their assessments based on a child's actions since this required more sensitive observation. However, nurses that are able to make these sensitive observations possess a unique and valuable skill since they become able to predict an imminent death before it is detectable in the physical condition and medical tests.
Intuiting the time of death is associated with the task of preparing for the death. The nurses shared their intuitions with other nurses and physicians in order to make sure everyone is on alert, they can reduce the child's agony, and to make sure the physician will be present at the time of death. The nurses also share their intuitions with family members to encourage them to come to terms with the situation and to arrange for people to be at the bed side at the time of death. For these reasons, intuiting the time of death is the fundamental skill needed by nurses to make sure the death occurs in a well controlled situation according to the terms of a 'good death'.
