Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care

Purpose The aim was to explore nurse assistants´ experiences of paying attention to and encountering patients receiving municipal health and social care, who are in grief due to the death of a loved one. Methods A qualitative study with focus group interviews (n = 6) was conducted with nurse assista...

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Main Authors: Anne-Lie Larsson, Ingela Beck, Ann-Christin Janlöv, Eva-Lena Einberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2330116
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author Anne-Lie Larsson
Ingela Beck
Ann-Christin Janlöv
Eva-Lena Einberg
author_facet Anne-Lie Larsson
Ingela Beck
Ann-Christin Janlöv
Eva-Lena Einberg
author_sort Anne-Lie Larsson
collection DOAJ
description Purpose The aim was to explore nurse assistants´ experiences of paying attention to and encountering patients receiving municipal health and social care, who are in grief due to the death of a loved one. Methods A qualitative study with focus group interviews (n = 6) was conducted with nurse assistants (NAs) (n = 28) in municipal health and social care (n = 5) in southern Sweden. The data were analysed inductively using qualitative content analysis. Results Three categories (1) Noticing changes in the patient, (2) Using different strategies to create a dialogue with the patient, (3) Experiencing challenges when encountering patients in grief, included eight sub-categories were identified. The result is captured in the theme of Having to be attentive to signs of grief after patients´ loss of loved ones, sensing the right time to approach and comfort, while having to cope with emotional challenges. Conclusions The NAs encountered expressions of strong emotions from patients in grief, and even expressions of a desire to end their lives. Additionally, the NAs had to deal with their own emotions that were evoked when meeting patients in grief. These challenges indicate the need for enhanced conditions in the work culture, and improved training and supervision in health and social care.
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spelling doaj-art-7a426f8ff99d4663b060bc8a504c645c2025-08-20T02:38:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.23301162330116Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social careAnne-Lie Larsson0Ingela Beck1Ann-Christin Janlöv2Eva-Lena Einberg3Kristianstad UniversityKristianstad UniversityKristianstad UniversityKristianstad UniversityPurpose The aim was to explore nurse assistants´ experiences of paying attention to and encountering patients receiving municipal health and social care, who are in grief due to the death of a loved one. Methods A qualitative study with focus group interviews (n = 6) was conducted with nurse assistants (NAs) (n = 28) in municipal health and social care (n = 5) in southern Sweden. The data were analysed inductively using qualitative content analysis. Results Three categories (1) Noticing changes in the patient, (2) Using different strategies to create a dialogue with the patient, (3) Experiencing challenges when encountering patients in grief, included eight sub-categories were identified. The result is captured in the theme of Having to be attentive to signs of grief after patients´ loss of loved ones, sensing the right time to approach and comfort, while having to cope with emotional challenges. Conclusions The NAs encountered expressions of strong emotions from patients in grief, and even expressions of a desire to end their lives. Additionally, the NAs had to deal with their own emotions that were evoked when meeting patients in grief. These challenges indicate the need for enhanced conditions in the work culture, and improved training and supervision in health and social care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2330116a loved onecontent analysisencounterfocus groupgriefmunicipal health and social carenurse assistantspatientspay attentionqualitative study
spellingShingle Anne-Lie Larsson
Ingela Beck
Ann-Christin Janlöv
Eva-Lena Einberg
Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
a loved one
content analysis
encounter
focus group
grief
municipal health and social care
nurse assistants
patients
pay attention
qualitative study
title Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
title_full Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
title_fullStr Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
title_full_unstemmed Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
title_short Nurse assistants’ experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one - a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
title_sort nurse assistants experiences of encountering patients in grief due to the death of a loved one a qualitative study in municipal health and social care
topic a loved one
content analysis
encounter
focus group
grief
municipal health and social care
nurse assistants
patients
pay attention
qualitative study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2330116
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