Comunicação de notícias difíceis para pacientes sem possibilidade de cura e familiares: atuação do enfermeiro

Abstract

The study investigated the nurses’ role with regard to disclosing difficult news to incurable patients and their families. This qualitative, descriptive study involved 28 care nurses working on wards at a public hospital in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, from August to October 2012. A form was used to collect data, which was then analyzed by content analysis. Analysis of the empirical material revealed two thematic categories: giving difficult news to incurable patients and relatives: participation by nurses; and strategies used by nurses to facilitate the giving of difficult news to patients and relatives. It was concluded that nurses play an essential role in breaking bad news to patients with no therapeutic possibility of cure and their relatives.