Role and Challenges of Nurses in Caring of Critically Ill Cancer Patients in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2021-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Little is known and discussed about nurses’ role in the oncology ward and patients experience of having critical cancer care. Furthermore, evidence-based practice is a challenge for all nurses and a distinctive challenge for critically ill cancer care nurses. This study aimed to explore the role and challenges experienced by nurses in caring of critically ill cancer patients for oncology nurses at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital during their daily practice. A cross-sectional qualitative descriptive study approach was conducted from February to April 2021 using a Semistructured individual face-to-face key informant interviews. Participants were selected by random sampling method from oncology nurses by work experiance in one of the biggestgovernmental hospitals, Here in this study, the findings reveled that participants well-understand and know their varies role in caring of critically ill nurses, faces several challenges, have had positive relationship with patients, experienced work-related stress and have had also different coping mechanisms. The most mentioned challenges participant raised are lack of drugs, dropping out of treatments, staff shortage, lack of rehabilitation center, delay treatment, late presentation of patients with complication, lack of accessibility services for those who came from distant places, poor management and administration system, unsafe working environment and lack of availability of medical equipment’. As participants faced work-related stress, anxiety and depression due to several factors, they have provided different stress coping mechanisms such as having refreshment, engaging in spiritual and religious activities, and talking with colleagues. Moreover, they suggested counseling and opening of psychology department, refreshment of on job-site, training of every three-month or six months can resolve work-related stress. Availing medical resources, designing stress coping mechanism, and improving the health care management of Tikur Anbessa Hospital able oncology nurses to accomplish their job more than their tasks. These study expanding further study cancer units reduce workload and improve quality of continuum of care.
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Keywords
Oncology nurse, critically ill, cancer, cancer patient, role and challenge