NURSING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH INCURABLE CANCER: THE PERCEPTION OF A GROUP OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

This study investigated the experience of professional nurses involved in the care of cancer patients whose cancer was beyond treatment. The study had a qualitative approach and was undertaken with the participation of thirteen professionals from a nursing team in a teaching hospital in the countryside in Sao Paulo state. The data was collected through interviews between August and October 2009. By applying Bardin’s content analysis, the data was categorized in three groups; nursing routines with patients with incurable cancer, facing work with patients in the terminal phase, and difficulties in working with patients beyond cure. The results indicated that patient care was limited to physical care, and that facing work with these patients was accomplished with individual strategies, putting patient safety at risk. The health care professionals’ lack of preparedness for emotional care was the main difficulty related, with evidence for the need for training in this matter.

Keywords

• Nursing
• Cancer
• Terminally ill patients
• Health professionals