Assessing Nurses' Attitudes Toward Death and Caring for Dying Patients in a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Michelle Lange, BSN, RN, OCN®;
Bridgette Thom, MS;
Nancy E. Kline, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives: To assess how nurses employed in a comprehensive cancer center feel about death and caring for dying patients and examine any relationships between their attitudes and demographic factors.

Design: Descriptive quantitative.

Setting: A 432-bed comprehensive cancer center in New York, NY.

Sample: A convenience sample of 355 inpatient and outpatient oncology nurses.

Methods: Voluntary and anonymous completion of the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD), the Death Attitude Profile–Revised (DAP-R), and a demographic questionnaire.

Main Research Variables: Years of total nursing experience, years employed at the cancer center, previous experience with caring for dying patients, age, gender, and attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients.

Findings: Statistically significant relationships were noted among age, nursing experience, previous experience with caring for terminally ill patients, and scores on the FATCOD and DAP-R. Nursing experience and age were the variables most likely to predict nurses' attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients.

Conclusions: RNs with more work experience tended to have more positive attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients.

Implications for Nursing: Based on the data collected in the study, less experienced oncology nurses will most likely benefit from increased education, training, and exposure to providing and coping effectively with end-of-life care.


My Reflections:

Working in a comprehensive cancer center, my work involves caring for cancer patients and their families throughout the entire continuum of cancer journey. Facing death squarely in my face was indeed challenging when I first started out. Filling full of optimism and enthusiasim, I care for my patients wholeheartedly. It is truly difficult to raise the topic of death and dying.

However, I learned from my patients that it was very important for us to initiate the discussion. My patients felt that they were given permission and that it was alright to talk about this taboo topic. And so, I knew that I have a duty of care towards my cancer patients. Patients should be allowed to share difficult feelings especially when their family members avoid/deny them of such opportunities. This sensitive psychosocial care is part of the holistic cancer care that health care professionals envisaged.

Being able to care for dying patients requires experiential learning and that innate sense of empathy. This goes hand in hand with our pledge to 'Do No Harm'. Hence, I am putting my hands up to support the study's discussion. Further education is necessary to empower us to cope with end-of-life care. We have to break away from these feelings of awkwardness and helplessness which are high walls of barriers. Let's reflect. We need the missing Midas touch in this end-of-life equation.



Ong Shu Xin
Counsellor, Registered Nurse
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Suicide, Grief and Bereavement Work
Oncology Nurses Chapter
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