Pronouncing death in the prehospital environment: The self-perceptions of nurses who are also emergency medical technicians.

摘要

This descriptive study explored the frequency and stressors of prehospital death pronouncement by Alaskan nurse-EMTs (1% of Alaskan nurses; 2% of Alaskan EMTs). The survey is a revision of Norton et al.'s (1992b) survey of Oregon EMTs who pronounced death. Surveys were mailed to all nurse-EMTs in Alaska (N = 67) and half of the nurse-EMTs responded (57%, n = 38). The data were analyzed using nonparametric exact tests. Most nurse-EMTs (70%) had witnessed an EMT pronounced death and 43% of the nurse-EMTs had pronounced death themselves at least once. Death pronouncement stressors included trauma, pediatric, non-DNR (do-not-resuscitate) and unexpected deaths, family presence, and family notification. Nurse-EMTs resuscitated clearly dead patients for family benefit (75%), for self-benefit (29%), and while waiting for medical control (100%). Nurse-EMTs pronounced death and found specific aspects stressful. Nurse-EMTs also resuscitated clearly dead patients rather than pronouncing death.