Dificuldades dos enfermeiros na comunicação de más notícias

Abstract

The present report comes as part of the curricular unit "Final Apprenticeship and Report", integrated in the Masters Course in Nursing with Specialization in Medical and Surgical Nursing, focused on the critically ill patient, and aims to reflect on the process of acquisition and development of skills in this specialty area. These competencies were developed in the context of a patient safety office and an intensive care unit. In the present document, it is shown the planned and implemented objectives, the activities that were carried out and the acquired competencies using a critical and reflective attitude. Over the course of its elaboration, it was necessary to invoke scientific evidence to support the decision-making process. In addition, there are the objectives defined for the curricular unit, the apprenticeship projects with personal objectives, and their assignments elaborated during the clinical practice. The document is based on reflection on topics such as: the process of learning and competency acquisition, contextualising the apprenticeship locations, describing the process of acquiring competencies specific to the critically ill patient and the global analysis of the path of learning and its implications for professional practice. There is also a scoping review about the nurses’ difficulties in communicating bad news, aiming to map the existing knowledge on this topic. The communication of bad news, especially in the context of an incurable disease, is one of the most demanding and complex tasks that faces healthcare professionals. It is shown, as well, an investigation project in the context of the preparation and administration of high-alert drugs, taking into account the adoption of safe practises in this area. Throughout this report, it is also possible to note areas such as ethics, deontology, communication and the therapeutic relationship. Considering the professional growth as a specialist nurse, this report enabled the development of reflection and management skills in the provision of care, the implementation of interventions based on scientific evidence, as well as the humanization of care. In short, the investigation is important for the evolution of nursing care and the development of the profession, enabling more qualified and up-to-date nurses to focus on providing better quality care.

Date of Award	6 Dec 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Lurdes Martins (Supervisor)