Article ID: 20220413193
Objective: This study aimed to clarify palliative care practiced by certified nurses in palliative care and certified nurses in chronic heart failure nursing for later-stage elderly patients hospitalized for end-stage heart failure. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four certified nurses, and the interview data were analyzed qualitatively. Results: Regarding care provided by certified nurses, eight categories were extracted: [adjust patients’ oxygen consumption in daily activities], [use a non-pharmacological approach to ease patients’ difficulty in breathing], [create a time that allows patients to get relief from their chronic pain and feel comfortable], [involve other people to mitigate patients’ pain], [get support from people around the patient so that he/she can lead his/her daily life without excess treatment burden], [recognize patients who keep fighting despite feeling depressed due to prolonged restrictions on daily life], [relax prolonged restrictions on daily life little by little], and [provide support to make patients’ wishes come true while taking into account their remaining lifetime]. Conclusions: It was suggested that in caring for patients approaching the end of life, it is necessary to provide care while striking a balance between the degree of psychological burden and restrictions on daily life.
