Revista de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (Feb 2013)

Palliative care in ICU: comprehension, limits and possibilities for nurses

  • Nara Calazans Balbino Barros,
  • Cecília Danielle Bezerra Oliveira,
  • Estela Rodrigues Paiva Alves,
  • Inácia Sátiro Xavier de França,
  • Raquel Medeiros Nascimento,
  • Maria Eliane Moreira Freire

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5902/217976925857
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 3
pp. 630 – 640

Abstract

Read online

Objective: to verify the comprehension, limits and possibilities faced by nurses to perform palliative care for patients in the ICU of a hospital in João Pessoa/PB. Method: qualitative study conducted in April and May 2011 with six ICU nurses. We used a questionnaire containing data characterizing the sample and two guiding questions. The data were analyzed according to the Collective Subject Discourse. Result: multidisciplinary actions to promote well-being and comfort to patients and their families; actions that do not result in improvement. Limits: ack of trained professionals and a specific protocol for palliative care; spiritual support to the patient, a prescription and do not offer palliative care. The possibilities: perform actions that provide comfort and pain relief. Conclusion: ICU nurses have limitations with respect to patient care terminal and your family

Keywords