Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The aim was to explore nurse assistants´ experiences of paying attention to and encountering patients receiving municipal health and social care, who are in grief due to the death of a loved one.

Methods

A qualitative study with focus group interviews (n = 6) was conducted with nurse assistants (NAs) (n = 28) in municipal health and social care (n = 5) in southern Sweden. The data were analysed inductively using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Three categories (1) Noticing changes in the patient, (2) Using different strategies to create a dialogue with the patient, (3) Experiencing challenges when encountering patients in grief, included eight sub-categories were identified. The result is captured in the theme of Having to be attentive to signs of grief after patients´ loss of loved ones, sensing the right time to approach and comfort, while having to cope with emotional challenges.

Conclusions

The NAs encountered expressions of strong emotions from patients in grief, and even expressions of a desire to end their lives. Additionally, the NAs had to deal with their own emotions that were evoked when meeting patients in grief. These challenges indicate the need for enhanced conditions in the work culture, and improved training and supervision in health and social care.

KEYWORDS:

• A loved one
• content analysis
• encounter
• focus group
• grief
• municipal health and social care
• nurse assistants
• patients
• pay attention
• qualitative study

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the NAs who shared their experiences with us and the reference group for their commitment and contribution to their views.

Authors contribution

The study was designed by all the authors. A-L. L, I.B, and A-C. J collected data and all the authors analysed the data. A-L. L prepared the manuscript, and all authors read and discussed it until agreement was reached on all parts of the manuscript. All authors have contributed substantially to the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the no funding; The Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Science, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.

Notes on contributors

Anne-Lie Larsson

Anne-Lie Larsson, RN, PhD student in Nursing at the Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Sweden. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Nursing in Elderly Care, and more than 10 years of experience as a registered nurse.

Ingela Beck

Ingela Beck, RN, PhD is an associate Professor in Nursing at the Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, and the Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Sweden. She is a qualified registered nurse in palliative care and has 20 years’ experience of clinical work including municipal health care and palliative care.

Ann-Christin Janlöv

Ann-Christin Janlöv, RN, RNT, is an associate Professor in Nursing at the Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University. She has a registered nursing specialization in both mental and somatic health care, including 18 years of clinical work experience as a nurse.

Eva-Lena Einberg

Eva-Lena Einberg, RN, PhD, is a university lecturer in Health and Care Sciences at the Research Platform for Collaboration for Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Sweden. She has postgraduate training in Psychiatric Nursing, a Diploma as an Advanced Professional of District Health Care and School Health Service, and a Diploma in Advanced Professional Health Care Nursing for Children and Adolescents. She has 15 years’ experience of clinical work, including municipal health care and mental health care.