Facing death in care: Nurses’ lived experiences in the care of bedridden patients

This qualitative study explored nurses’ experiences of facing death while caring for bedridden patients in palliative and long-term care settings. Nurses are the primary witnesses to the final phase of life, where technical competence and emotional endurance coexist. Understanding how nurses perceive death and how knowledge, time, and communication affect their caregiving can provide insights into improving end-of-life nursing practices.

The study was conducted with 70 primary nurse-caregivers of bedridden patients who were hospitalized in the palliative clinic of a university and an educational research hospital in Istanbul between April and August 2024. The research data were obtained through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview form. The interviews were recorded on a voice recorder. The data obtained from the interviews were analysed thematically.

Three main themes were identified: Deficits in Knowledge and Education, Time Management, and Communication and Coordination. Nurses expressed uncertainty and emotional tension when providing care for dying patients. Inadequate end-of-life education heightened their fear of making mistakes. Heavy workload and limited time constrained emotional presence at the bedside. Fragmented communication among healthcare professionals increased feelings of isolation and moral distress. Across these themes, nurses experienced a silent but persistent awareness of death that shaped their professional identity and coping strategies.