December 6, 2025Heart & Lung0 citationsOpen Access
View Full PaperNavigating uncertainty and vulnerability: Cardiac nurses' perspectives on providing palliative care for patients with late-stage heart failure
Key Points
- Palliative care perceptions challenge nurses in late-stage heart failure settings, promoting feelings of uncertainty.
- Nurses identify a neglected role for palliative care, often overlooked amidst cardiac care approaches.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for effective support to patients and families in palliative contexts.
- Uncertainty and vulnerability arise for nurses and patients without structured interdisciplinary support.
Abstract
Cardiac nurses perceive palliative care for patients with heart failure as both challenging and frequently overlooked within cardiac care settings. The nurses often struggle to integrate and appropriately frame palliative care while respecting patients' wishes, which contributes to feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability. They highlight the critical need for systematic interdisciplinary collaboration to effectively support patients and their families throughout the palliative care process.