Ms Lili Gao1, Ms Ruth Wei2
1Aegis Aged Care Group Shoalwater Aged Care, Rockingham, Australia, 2Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
Biography:
Lili Gao is a clinical nurse with 12 years of working experience in aged care in Western Australia. She also works in Murdoch University tutoring nursing research unit. Lili Gao found passion in palliative care in aged care at the very early stage of her nursing career. She leads her clinical team with focus of improving quality of life for residents receiving palliative care as well as their families and relatives.
In 2022, Lili Gao completed her Research Master with Training in Murdoch University, and she would like to present her the project she did for her master’s study.
Abstract:
Background: Literature suggests a lack of skills and knowledge in end-of-life care among nurses working in residential aged care facilities globally, which can potentially have a negative impact on the quality of end-of-life care received by residents and their families.
Aim: This study aimed to explore aged care nurses’ lived experience of providing end-of-life care to residents living in residential aged care and their families in Western Australia, focusing on end-of-life conversations and Advanced Care Planning implementation.
Methodology: The qualitative method of interpretative phenomenology was used. Eight nurses, including five registered nurses and three enrolled nurses from 26 residential aged care facilities in Western Australia were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for manual data analysis, guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis framework.
Results: Four themes were generated from the data analysis describing nurses’ experiences of End-of-life care provision, End-of-life communication, Support in end-of-life care provision, and Education and future expectations. Nurses revealed that providing comfort was the priority goal of end-of-life care. Although feeling unprepared and potentially lacking confidence and skills in communication about end-of-life care and advanced care planning, providing care to residents and families at this time had personal meaning and value.
Conclusion: This study suggests that although nurses working in residential aged care facilities employed innovative, compassionate, and holistic end-of-life care to residents and families, challenges in end-of-life care provision were prominent, including nurses’ insufficient skills in recognising impending death and their lack of confidence in end-of-life communication and advanced care planning. Also, care quality would benefit from more focused and ongoing end-of-life education and support.