Awareness of dying
Awareness of dying was the initial process event in promoting a
peaceful death in the ICUs. The participants were aware of
impending death. For example, unstable signs and symptoms,
and a lack of response to treatment were evidence of a patient’s
deteriorating health condition. Often, awareness of dying is the
initial phase of the process of promoting peaceful death. It takes
a vigilant nurse to notice subtle changes in patients’ conditions.
Knowing these subtleties allows the nurse the opportunity to
bear witness to the patient’s changing health condition and
to communicate these changes effectively and efficiently to a
physician, the patient and the patient’s family members. The
processes in the dimension of awareness of dying include
‘monitoring of dying process’ and ‘appreciating impending
death’.