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Struggling in change at the end of life: A nursing inquiry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2007

DEANNA HUTCHINGS
DEANNA HUTCHINGS
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this human science nursing inquiry is to explore the meaning of struggling in change for persons at the end of life.

Methods: Guided by Parse's theory of human becoming, a descriptive exploratory method was used to answer the research question: What is the meaning of the experience of struggling in change for persons at the end of life? Eight persons who were living with dying described experiences of struggling in change during face-to-face audiotaped interviews.

Results: A process of analysis–synthesis revealed three themes that are discussed in relation to extant related literature and interpreted in light of the human becoming perspective.

Significance of results: Findings from the study contribute new knowledge about human experience at the end of life from a human science perspective and offer new insights on struggling in change as a rhythmical pattern of living and dying. Implications for palliative practice, research, and education are discussed.

Keywords

Human becomingHuman scienceNursing inquiryStruggling in changeEnd of life
Type
Research Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 31 - 39
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

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