Thinking about finitude: an approach of the nursing care facing terminality

Resumen

Dying and death are universal human experiences that are part of daily activities in a nursing team. This study aimed to analyze the implications of conceptions of nursing professionals about death and dying in the care provided to terminally ill patients in the general Intensive Care Unit of a referral hospital in oncology in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. Data collection occurred between June and August 2010 through free observation and semi-structured interviews and 11 nursing professionals were interviewed. For data analysis we chose the method of Thematic Analysis. The results pointed to a multitude of feelings and conceptual dimensions related to the process of death as determinants of the actions of care for dying patients. The work was concluded emphasizing the need for transformation strategies facing this reality that contribute to improve the quality of nursing care to terminally ill patients and their families.