%0 Journal Article
%T Emergency nurses' experiences of caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives-a qualitative study.
%A Bove DG
%A Simonsen SS
%A Herling SF
%A Timm H
%J J Adv Nurs
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 6
%M 39104304
%F 3.057
%R 10.1111/jan.16371
%X OBJECTIVE: To explore how emergency nurses experienced caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives, and what hindered or facilitated this care in an emergency setting.
METHODS: A qualitative study using Interpretive Description.
METHODS: Data were collected as individual interviews with 13 nurses at seven Danish emergency departments from February to June 2023.
RESULTS: Our analysis revealed the overarching theme 'Navigating the complexities of providing holistic care in a constrained environment', covering five sub-themes: (1) An important yet not recognized nursing task; (2) Pending care needs of the living and the dead; (3) No physical or mental room for the brought-in-dead persons; (4) Utilizing personal experiences in the absence of formal education and training and (5) Navigating professionalism and empathy.
CONCLUSIONS: Emergency departments posed unique challenges in providing care to brought-in-dead persons and their relatives.
UNASSIGNED: The unrecognized nature of caring for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives suggests a universal undervaluation of this care in emergency departments.
CONCLUSIONS: Care for brought-in-dead persons and their relatives is neither recognized nor evidence-based. This study initiates a discussion of the circumstances for delivering care for persons brought-in-dead and has an impact on nurses and nursing leaders employed in emergency departments.
UNASSIGNED: The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
UNASSIGNED: None.