Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

In nursing care, the approach with the patient is very important in order to establish a relationship of trust. This approach is especially used in palliative care, regardless of the setting in which it is offered. A recurring question, when talking about palliative care, is how health care providers, including the nurse, must and can cope with the emotions and feelings of patients with incurable diseases, in order to succeed in relieving their pain. In this thesis, however, we wanted to investigate the emotional state of the nurse, as a professional who provides care to these people and how he manages to cope with situations of stress and discomfort to which he is subjected. In this regard, a focus group was planned and carried out, through a group discussion that addressed important issues in the group of people enrolled, assisted by the moderator and supervisors. From the analysis of the focus group data, it emerges that the emotionality experienced in this profession is a lot and often it is also difficult to bear, without forgetting that, also the experience, plays in favor of the nurses. The answers provided during the meeting gave a better understanding of the role and thought of the palliative care nurse; moreover, it was highlighted that there are also various ways to be able to externalize negative emotions and all the psychological pressure that makes this role not suitable for everyone, which can often lead to burnout or, in rare cases, to the abandonment of the professional role. The databases used for bibliographic research employed in the drafting of the paper are PubMed, Cinahl and Cochrane Library. The three chapters within it will explore palliative care, in its general aspects, the emotional aspects of the nursing profession in palliative care and explain the focus group carried out.