Role of Nurse in Caring for Dying Patient and Their Families

Running Head: ROLE OF NURSE IN CARING FOR DYING PATIENT 1
Role of Nurse in Caring for Dying Patient and Their Families
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Role of Nurse in Caring for Dying Patient and Their Families 2
Role of Nurse in Caring for Dying Patient and Their Families
When caring for a dying patient, the treatment tends to shift from putting active effort to
cure the illness, and concentrate on minimizing distress and effects of the disease. Thus, the
nurse aims at providing terminal care to give the patient personal support and maintain an
acceptable lifestyle, which will enable a peaceful death. This needs to happen in regards to the
sufferer’s beliefs and culture, preferences, and values. In spite of this, the nurse should consider
the patient’s relatives and friends because their emotions are sensitive; this is because losing a
loved one is quite intense and hard for some people to process. It is vital to note that the response
of losing a loved one often reflects the intensity of the relationship that the friends and family
had with the dying patient. Therefore, the article focuses on the role of nursing staff in end of life
care; which may involve psychological, physical, spiritual, and social care of the patient and his
family and friends.
According to Harris (n.d), the personal concern and support of the nurse are highly
valued by both the relative, friends and patient. This is because the nurse tends to share the
experience with them by acknowledging their psychological pain, and help them cope with the
distress of losing a loved one. It is worth noting that it is not wrong for a nurse to express her
feeling towards the dying patient-she needs not to feel embarrassed when admitting her
emotional reaction when caring for a dying patient. Furthermore, the nurse may require a wide
range of skills and values, which express their support and compassion — for instance,
communicating sensitively and apparently with the patient and his family. Also, acknowledging
when the patient is in distress and pain, which may help the nurse take swift action in assisting
the patient (Royal College of Nursing, n.d).

Role of Nurse in Caring for Dying Patient and Their Families 3
Values and Beliefs of the Nurse’s Personal Faith Tradition Related to Death
The nurse has a role of providing end of life care that is personal and culturally
competent and relevant for each patient. Hence, the care provided to the sufferer during his final
hours will be treasured and remembered by the friends and family of the dying patient. It is
crucial to note that if the nurse comes from a different cultural background, then it is critical to
provide care that is appropriate as per certain faith and cultural traditions of the dying patient.
Therefore, it is crucial for the nurse to take time and learn some of the necessary information,
which may help them bind by the cultural practices regarding death. According to Lewis et al.
(2017), spiritually significant in nursing especially when providing palliative care because
guidelines regarding spiritual care are developed. These guidelines give nurses a general
understanding of the importance of acquiring a caring attitude, which should be responsive and
recognized by the patient’s individual needs. Moreover, the personal nurse faith is crucial in
palliative care because most patients have deep concerns and fears that are commonly require
spiritual care (Giske & Cone, 2015).
Rome, Luminais, Bourgeois & Blais (2011) assert that the primary purpose of palliative
care is to relieve the patient from suffering, and give his family and friends some peace through
comprehensive assessment. Thus, as a patient approaches death, the symptoms of the disease
may need more aggressive palliation-this means comfort measures ought to be taken in
supporting the dying patient’s family and friends. Nevertheless, skilled therapeutic
communication may facilitate discussions that are aimed at enhancing and maintaining the
relationships that the dying patient may have built. Alternatively, the patient’s age plays a vital
role in nursing care. For instance, when caring for a dying child, the nurse needs to work hand in