Family satisfaction with care provided by nurse practitioners to nursing home residents with dementia at the end of life

Clin Nurs Res. 2012 Aug;21(3):350-67. doi: 10.1177/1054773811431883. Epub 2011 Dec 27.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine family satisfaction with care provided by nurse practitioners (NP) to nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. A survey was mailed to 239 family members of nursing home residents who died with dementia. One open-ended question was added to provide comment about the care provided by the NP. A total of 131 surveys were returned (response rate 55%). The study revealed that 98% of family members agreed that they were satisfied with the end-of-life care provided by the NP. Survey responses were used to analyze the associations of communication, comfort, and satisfaction with NPs to total satisfaction with end-of-life care. Pearson's correlations demonstrated that overall satisfaction was significantly associated with NP-family communication, resident comfort, and satisfaction with NP care. Findings suggested that NPs using a model of care that emphasizes advance care planning, communication, and comfort results in high satisfaction of family members.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Clinical Nursing Research
  • Consumer Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Dementia / nursing*
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Nursing
  • Nurse Practitioners* / psychology
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Homes*
  • Professional-Family Relations
  • Terminal Care / organization & administration*