Supportive Behaviors
Significantly higher impact scores were reported
in supportive behavior items than in obstacle items.
Supportive behavior items likely received higher scores
because nurses are more in control of these behaviors,
particularly regarding how frequently each occurs.
The top four supportive behavior items by PSBIS indicated
the importance nurses placed on caring for the
grieving family once a patient died. The top two items,
allowing family members adequate time alone with the
patient after death and providing a peaceful bedside
scene for family, related to behaviors the nurse could
facilitate. The supportive behavior items ranked third
(allowing family members unlimited access to dying
patient) and fourth (teaching family members how to
E404 Vol. 39, No. 5, September 2012 • Oncology Nursing Forum
act around the dying patient) also were items the nurse
could control for the family.
The top supportive behaviors identified by critical
care (Beckstrand & Kirchhoff, 2005) and emergency
room nurses (Beckstrand et al., 2008) were similar to