Assessing nurses' attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients in a comprehensive cancer center Journal Article
| Authors: | Lange, M.; Thom, B.; Kline, N. E. |
| Article Title: | Assessing nurses' attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients in a comprehensive cancer center |
| 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. |
| Keywords: | adult; middle aged; young adult; oncology nursing; oncologic nursing; palliative care; palliative therapy; age factors; time; time factors; age; questionnaires; questionnaire; psychological aspect; cancer center; curriculum; cancer care facilities; nurse patient relationship; models, nursing; nurse-patient relations; terminal care; model; attitude to death; nursing education; nurse; nurses; education, nursing |
| Journal Title: | Oncology Nursing Forum |
| Volume: | 35 |
| Issue: | 6 |
| ISSN: | 0190-535X |
| Publisher: | Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) |
| Date Published: | 2008-11-01 |
| Start Page: | 955 |
| End Page: | 959 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1188/08.onf.955-959 |
| PUBMED: | 18980927 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 11" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "Source: Scopus" |
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