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Peaceful Death (peaceful + death)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Promoting peaceful death in the intensive care unit in Thailand

INTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2009
W. Kongsuwan rn
Background:, Having a peaceful death is a common wish among Thai people. Thai culture and religious beliefs offer practical ways to enhance having a peaceful death. Dying in an intensive care unit (ICU) is unnatural and oftentimes painful for the patient and their loved ones. Promoting a peaceful death is one of the least understood yet critical roles of nurses who practise in ICUs. Purpose:, To explore the ways that ICU nurses in Thailand could promote peaceful death and to attempt a definition of the concept of ,peaceful death'. Method:, Data were generated from ICU nurses' descriptions of peaceful death. These were given during in-depth telephone interviews, tape-recorded and analysed using the grounded theory method of analysis. Findings:, ICU nurses promote peaceful death through a three-dimensional process: awareness of dying; creating a caring environment; and promoting end-of-life care. Conclusions:, The study provided opportunities for nurses to understand and influence the practice of promoting peaceful death in ICUs in Thailand. Further research is needed to enhance the practices and processes necessary for promoting peaceful death among ICU patients. It is anticipated that this will advance policy changes in nursing care processes in Thailand. [source]

Literature review: decision-making regarding slow resuscitation

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 11 2007
H Dip, Jacinta Kelly MSc
Aims and objectives., Applying ethical principles as a framework, a review of the literature will be presented regarding the decision-making process of slow codes. Background., Slow codes are cardiopulmonary resuscitative efforts intentionally conducted too slowly for resuscitation to occur. While some authors argue that a slow code is a non-maleficent and beneficent act towards the hopelessly ill patient, others believe that this practice is harmful and deceptive, that it disregards patient and surrogate autonomy and deprives the patient of a peaceful death. Method., Literature review. Results., Decision-making surrounding cardiopulmonary resuscitation receives considerable attention in the literature. However, data relating to the decision-making process in slow codes is sparse. One ethnographic study described the practice of slow codes as doing good and preventing harm to the patient. Conclusions., It was evident from the literature review that slow codes, even in the most limited form, are invasive and undignified and that they prolong death and suffering. Further research is needed to examine why slow codes happen despite the availability of a do-not-resuscitate order. Relevance to clinical practice., Decision-making regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation is increasingly problematic in Ireland. The literature review suggests that clinical guidelines regarding decision-making and cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be introduced to reduce the likelihood of slow codes occurring, but also that nurses and doctors endeavour to communicate more effectively with patients and family. [source]