Coping Strategies of Nurses in Terminal Ill

Coping strategies used by nurses who attend the terminally ill was the theme we chose to conduct research, with the objectives: identify coping strategies used by nurses and the influence of socio-demographic and psychological variables in this choice.To achieve these objectives we performed a quantitative, non-experimental, correlational and descriptive study. The sample was composed of 124 nurses of Centro Hospitalar in Centre of Portugal (22.6% male, 77.4% female, average=35.81 years, SD=8.18 years). A questionnaire was used that included: socio-demographic and professional characterization, scale of overall satisfaction with work, stress perception scale, problem solving inventory and questionnaire of coping strategies.The results found in this study show: the coping strategies most frequently used by nurses are planned resolution of problems and taking responsibility. The least used are escape, avoidance and detachment. The planned resolution of the problem is influenced by the request for help, active confrontation and active resolution of problems, perception of stress, age and general job satisfaction. The strategy of taking responsibility is influenced by the active attitude of non-interference in daily life events and by confronting the problems and planning strategies.With this study we can infer that the use of coping strategies by the nurses is influenced by their general Job satisfaction, age, sex, number of years they have been working, perception of stress and problem solving.