Table 3 Levels of Attitude (N = 102)
Attitude (30–120) | Total (N = 102) | CHF (n = 26) (a) | Stroke (n = 26) (b) | ESRD (n = 25) (c) | ESLD (n = 25) (d) | F(p) |
Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | ||
87.97 ± 6.93 | 87.08 ± 5.54 | 86.19 ± 5.98 | 87.40 ± 8.65 | 91.32 ± 6.47 | 2.87 (.040) (b < d) | |
Item No | Item (range: 1–4) | Mean ± SD | ||||
1 | Giving nursing care to the dying person is a worthwhile learning experience. | 3.14 ± 0.53 | ||||
2 | Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. | 2.36 ± 0.78 | ||||
3† | I would be uncomfortable talking about impending death with the dying person. | 1.72 ± 0.57 | ||||
4 | Nursing care for the patient’s family should continue throughout the period of grief and bereavement. | 3.38 ± 0.55 | ||||
5† | I would not want to be assigned to care for a dying person. | 2.39 ± 0.80 | ||||
6† | The nurse should not be the one to talk about death with the dying person. | 3.05 ± 0.71 | ||||
7† | The length of time required to give nursing care to a dying person would frustrate me. | 2.40 ± 0.69 | ||||
8† | I would be upset when the dying person I was caring for gave up hope of getting better. | 2.66 ± 0.65 | ||||
9† | It is difficult to form a close relationship with the family of the dying person. | 2.75 ± 0.64 | ||||
10 | There are times when death is welcomed by the dying person. | 2.77 ± 0.51 | ||||
11† | When a patient asks, “Nurse am I dying?,” I think it is best to change the subject to something cheerful. | 3.23 ± 0.58 | ||||
12 | The family should be involved in the physical care of the dying person. | 3.09 ± 0.65 | ||||
13† | I would hope the person I’m caring for dies when I am not present. | 2.59 ± 0.68 | ||||
14† | I am afraid to become friends with a dying person. | 2.71 ± 0.68 | ||||
15† | I would feel like running away when the person actually died. | 3.20 ± 0.75 | ||||
16 | Families need emotional support to accept the behavior changes of the dying person. | 3.58 ± 0.55 | ||||
17† | As a patient nears death, the nurse should withdraw from his/her involvement with the patient. | 2.81 ± 0.67 | ||||
18 | Families should be concerned about helping their dying member make the best of his/her remaining life. | 3.37 ± 0.54 | ||||
19† | The dying person should not be allowed to make decisions about his/her physical care. | 3.60 ± 0.57 | ||||
20 | Families should maintain as normal an environment as possible for their dying member. | 3.25 ± 0.59 | ||||
21† | It is beneficial for the dying person to verbalize his/her feelings. | 3.25 ± 0.59 | ||||
22 | Nursing care should extend to the family of the dying person. | 3.48 ± 0.58 | ||||
23 | Nurses should permit dying persons to have flexible visiting schedules. | 3.47 ± 0.52 | ||||
24 | The dying person and his/her family should be the in-charge decision makers. | 3.39 ± 0.57 | ||||
25 | Addiction to pain relieving medication should not be a concern when dealing with a dying person. | 2.80 ± 0.83 | ||||
26† | I would be uncomfortable if I entered the room of a terminally ill person and found him/ her crying. | 1.85 ± 0.53 | ||||
27 | Dying persons should be given honest answers about their condition. | 3.07 ± 0.62 | ||||
28† | Educating families about death and dying is not a nursing responsibility. | 3.02 ± 0.78 | ||||
29† | Family members who stay close to a dying person often interfere with the professionals job with the patient. | 2.47 ± 0.59 | ||||
30 | It is possible for nurses to help patients prepare for death. | 3.11 ± 0.49 | ||||