Nurses’ perception on palliative care and management of pain at the ICU

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.2013374450457

Abstract

Taking care of a human being in the death process is a challenge for nurses working at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This
study aimed to identify and analyze the nurses’ perception on palliative care and management of pain in an Intensive Care
Unit and characterize the sample. This quanti-qualitative study was developed at an Intensive Care Unit of Campinas, in
the state of São Paulo. Eight nurses participated in the study. Data were collected from June to August 2011 through semi-
-structured interviews recorded individually. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and qualitative
data were analyzed according to the content analysis methodology. The nurses working in the ICU form a heterogeneous
team having different time experience as a nurse, different working time in the ICU and in the institution. By analyzing
the speeches, five categories were evidenced: palliative care concept, nursing care in palliative care at the ICU, measures
to evaluate and control pain, lack of consensus for palliative care and pain control and family integration at the ICU. The
difficulty of the nurses in relation to palliative care and pain management highlights the importance of approaching the
theme since undergraduate level and of the education activities aimed at a permanent education of the professionals about
the theme.