Nurse-patient communication while performing home dialysis: the patients' perceptions.

This study aimed at describing patients' perception of their communication with nurses when performing home dialysis. Data were collected from interviews guided by the question: "What is communication like, between you and nurses, during home dialysis treatment?" Results show participants' perception of treatment during home peritoneal dialysis [Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)]; relationship with nurses and family and the effects of treatment on one's existence. Patients can be self-caring and they learn to value the autonomy in their own care. However, some are unable to assume the responsibility for self-care. It was discovered that the connotation of "inspection" that some participants attributed to the nurse's visits, led to an alienation from the education process in the CAPD education. Findings suggest that effective communication and the development of the relationship of a working partnership with patients is crucial. Improvement in the nurses' communication, aiming at adapting it to the characteristics, limitations and specific needs of each patient, is significant for achieving better outcomes.

Caring for organ donors: the intensive care unit physicians' view.

This study examined the meanings that the intensive care unit (ICU) physicians attribute to their practice when caring for brain-dead organ donors. It is a phenomenological study, a qualitative method that searches for describing and understanding the experiences lived. Data were collected through recorded individual interviews made with 10 ICU physicians who work in a university hospital in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. Three categories emerged from data: (1) providing care for brain-dead organ donors; (2) relating to donors and their families; and (3) the ethical concerns and self-awareness of the physicians. There is consensus as to many aspects: demand of technical qualification and excellence in practice; need of investing in technology of organ transplant; and donors seen as human beings and holders of human rights. Participants understand that family participation is decisive in the donation process, although interactions between the family members and the physicians are difficult because of the sensitive nature of the situation. The physicians often felt ill-prepared to openly discuss the topic of brain death and organ donation. Educational programs for physicians and family members may assist with this difficult process.

Auto-percepçäo de aluna de enfermagem ao desenvolver relaçäo de ajuda a familiares de criança em fase terminal / Self perception of a nursing student in developing a helping relationship with the relatives of terminal stage children

O presente estudo visa relatar e analisar o processo de relacionamento terapêutico entre aluna de enfermagem e mäe de criança internada em UTI pediátrica, em fase terminal. As interaçöes desenvolvidas neste processo foram gravadas e analisadas no enfoque de Relacionamento Terapêutico. Utilizando técnicas de comunicaçäo terapêutica e medidas terapêuticas de enfermagem, a aluna envolveu-se empaticamente com a mäe da criança e com os demais familiares, propondo-se a ajudá-los a superar suas dificuldades diante da criança em fase terminal. Neste estudo a aluna analisa a sua própria ansiedade diante da situaçäo e as dificuldades que teve devido aos seus conflitos diante da terminalidade do seu paciente.