Exploring nurses' experiences and perspectives with patient death due to drug overdose : implications for future practice

Dahise, Stacy

Brandon, Manitoba

Brandon University, Faculty of Health Studies

2021

116 pages

thesis

Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-104).
"In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychiatric Nursing."

English

Nurses’ experiences and perspectives with patient death due to a drug overdose is a topic that has received minimal research attention, creating a significant gap in the literature. Research from other practice settings suggests nurses are profoundly affected by patient death. This study aimed to contribute to the limited knowledge of nurses’ experiences with patient death due to a drug overdose. Themes identified from semi-structured interviews with twelve nurses practicing in Vancouver, BC, Canada were: challenges associated with overdose deaths, impactful overdose deaths, preparing for overdose deaths, personal effects of overdose deaths, enhancement of nursing practice, coping with overdose deaths and workplace coping. Sub-themes were generated under challenges associated with overdose deaths, impactful overdose deaths, preparing for overdose deaths, personal effects of overdose deaths, coping with overdose deaths and workplace coping. Findings are discussed and highlight implications for nurses, educators, and employers. Areas for future research were identified and based on inquiries that materialized as a result of the findings in this study.

Drugs--Overdose--British Columbia--Vancouver
Drug addicts--Death--British Columbia--Vancouver
Nurses--British Columbia--Vancouver--Psychology
Grief--Psychological aspects--British Columbia--Vancouver

Brandon University
Faculty of Health Studies