Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2019 Sep;22(3):125-133. 10.14475/kjhpc.2019.22.3.125.

End of Life Care Competencies and Terminal Care Stress of Nurses in Long Term Care Hospitals

• Jeong YH
• June KJ

• KMID: 2457651
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2019.22.3.125

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between end of life care competencies and terminal care stress of nurses in long term care hospitals.
METHODS
For this study, 140 nurses were sampled among those that have over 6-month end of life care experience and were working at long term care hospitals located in A city and C city of Chungcheongnam-do. Using a questionnaire, data were collected from January 2018 through March 2018. Data were analyzed using the SPSS, Windows version 21.0, according to the purpose of the study and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one way ANOVA, Schéffe's test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
RESULTS
The mean score on terminal care stress of nurses was above the normal level. The scores on end of life care competencies significantly varied by age, total career at hospitals, death/hospice and palliative care education, and bereavement experience. The mean score of end of life care competencies was negatively correlated with the mean score of lack of knowledge and skills among the sub-items of the terminal care stress category (r=−0.260, P=0.002).
CONCLUSION
To decrease the terminal care stress of long term care hospital nurses, it is suggested to carry out end of life care education tailored to nurses' characteristics.

Keyword

Nurses; Long-Term care; Clinical competence; Terminal care; Occupational stress

MeSH Terms

Bereavement
Chungcheongnam-do
Clinical Competence
Education
Long-Term Care*
Palliative Care
Terminal Care*