Health Care at the End of Life: Experience of Nurses at the Adult Intensive Care Unit

The objective of this study was to determine the experience of the nurses who provide health care in the final stages of life in the intensive care unit for adults. The authors report the results of their study, which used a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Eighteen adults participated by being interviewed using semistructured questions. The nurses expressed that health care at the end of life represents an emotional and psychological burden for them. They also recognized that health care was given based on the empiricism achieved through clinical experience. In this regard, they emphasize the importance of having the proper education in this area to provide comprehensive care to the patient, the family, and the nurse.