NURSES’ SPIRITUAL DISTRESS DURING END OF LIFE DECISION MAKING: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Objectives: This study describes the meaning of Muslim nurses ’ lived experience during their involvement in End of Life (EOL) decision making in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Methods: This study was conducted in an ICU of a government hospital in Central Java, Indonesia. Fourteen nurses were recruited as participants after they met the inclusion criteria: Muslims, working at least three years in the ICU, and willing to share their experience. Data were collected using in-depth interviews. Van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to analyze the data transcription. Results: Experiences of nurses' involvement in EOL decision making revealed four thematic categories. Feeling spiritual distress, understanding family’s feelings as a killer, respecting privacy, and continuing time of caring. These themes reflecting van Manen's four lived world of body, time, relation, and space. Conclusions: This study described the meaning of Muslim nurses ’ EOL decision making in ICU and influence nursing policies regarding education in EOL decision making in ICU settings.