Expert nursing behaviors in care of the dying adult in the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE: To identify expert nursing behaviors in care of the dying adult in the intensive care unit. DESIGN: Descriptive, exploratory. SETTING: One tertiary care hospital surgical intensive care unit and one community hospital medical-surgical intensive care unit in a western Canadian city. SUBJECTS: Ten intensive care nurses nominated as experts in the care of dying adults by their peers. RESULTS: Behaviors identified after constant comparative content analysis of transcribed interviews with nurse experts included: responding after death has occurred; responding to the family; responding to anger; responding to colleagues; providing comfort care; and enhancing personal growth. CONCLUSIONS: The identification and description of specific nursing interventions in care of the dying are imperative to demonstrate to practicing clinicians that a clearly defined role exists for them in the delivery of terminal care.