| Abstrakt: |
Background: The research was aimed at identification of the major stressors and characteristics of the discomfort that nurses experience in providing end-of-life care in the current conditions of hospital environments. Research sample and methods: The research sample consisted of 105 nurses and medical assistants (7 men and 98 women). 38 (36.2%) respondents worked in acute care wards, and 67 (63.8%) in subsequent care wards in Silesian Hospital in Opava. The research data was obtained by means of a questionnaire. Results: The survey was carried out mainly by the experienced staff 89 (84.8%) of respondents (depending on the length of their healthcare practice from 6 to 31 years and more in the field of health care). With the death of patients at their workplaces they encounter approx. 4 to 6 times per month: 32 (30.5%) of the respondents encounter with the death of patients. The same number, 32 (30.5%) of respondents encounters with death from 7 to 9 times per month, and finally 10 times or more 5 (4.7%) respondents. 68 (64.8%) respondents are fully aware of need to provide emotional support to a dying person. The feeling of exhaustion in provision of emotional support is evident in the majority of the respondents 38 (36.2%) and "rather yes" claimed 29 (27.6%) respondents. The most common form of emotional support "the presence of a nurse" reported 30 (27.5%) of respondents. The most common feeling in the presence of a dying 50 (36%) of respondents there was reported "a regret". The most stressful situation in the end-of-life care was considered "communication with a family", by 75 (42.1%) of respondents. The most frequent reaction in experiencing stressful situation was reported "excitability" 41 (37.3%) of respondents. Three most frequent factors out of 11 that contribute to the stress at workplace, "lack of time for performing work duties" were claimed by 62 (22.5%) of respondents. For 53 (19.2%) of respondents it was "lack of staff" and for 50 other (18.1%) it was "administration duties". The majority of respondents 48 (45.7%) claimed that nurses are not sufficiently prepared to cope with stressful situations at workplace, and "no" was indicated by 13 (12.4%) of respondents. Conclusions: Research confirmed that provision of end-of-life care belongs to chief sources of stress in nurses. The other sources of stress are the following: "lack of time to satisfy working duties", "lack of personnel" and "administrative duties". Feeling of discomfort is caused also by feeling "regret", hopelessness and helplessness, anxiety, fear, worry, helplessness, pain, irritability, insomnia and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
