Organizational Challenges: A Major Obstacle at End of Life Care in Iran

Aims: End-of-life care is a significant part of nursing practice. The role of organizations at the end of life care cannot be ignored. Organization can act as a facilitator to improve the quality of care and provide a peaceful death at the end of life. The aim of this study was to illuminate oncology nurses’ organizational challenges of caring for dying patients in Iran.

Study Design: Qualitative method with conventional content analysis approach, Data collected by interviewing nurses which worked in oncology units in hospitals supervised by Zahedan Medical University in Iran and were conducted during the late summer 2014 to spring 2015.

Methodology: Was used to analyze the experiences of 18 oncology nurses in relation to caring for dying patients. The mean age of participants was 32 years old, and had a minimum of 9 months and up to 12 years (mean = 6 years) of working experience in the oncology sector. 75% of nurses were married; all of them had a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Findings: Three themes emerged from the text including: 1) environment structural challenges, 2) cultural and structural challenges of the organization, and 3) educational challenges of end of life care.

Conclusion: Considering the vital role of hospitals in providing holistic care for end of life patients, new technologies and methods of care can have a great impact on education, treatment and nursing practice, therefore, necessary organizational and cultural changes need to take place to improve nursing care which is fit to new condition.