Voices of Care: Nurses' Perspectives on End-of-Life Care for Black/African American Patients.
Siobhan P Aaron, Katherine Supiano, Samantha DeSimio
PMID 39636105WHAT IT FOUND
Black nurses described patients facing delayed care, inadequate pain management, and mistrust of hospice due to historical trauma.
They emphasized that nonverbal empathy, cultural humility, and workforce diversity are essential for building trust and improving end-of-life communication.
Key findings
01Nurses reported that patients of color often delayed seeking care due to fear of mistreatment and historical mistrust, leading to presentation at the hospital when they were sicker than necessary.
02Pain management disparities were a significant theme, with nurses noting that Black patients were frequently viewed with stigma as drug seekers in the emergency department, resulting in less adequate pain control compared to white patients.
03Nurses identified mistrust of hospice as a barrier, with families often equating hospice enrollment with giving up, requiring extensive explanation of the supportive nature of the service to overcome this perception.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study relies on the perspectives of nurses only, without direct input from patients or families. The sample was recruited via convenience and word-of-mouth, which may limit generalizability. As a qualitative study, it identifies themes and experiences but does not measure clinical outcomes or the effectiveness of interventions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by the Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific interventions reduce disparities. The study reports nurses' perceptions of existing problems and their suggestions for improvement, not the tested efficacy of those suggestions.