End-of-Life Dreams and Visions: A Qualitative Perspective From Hospice Patients
Department
Nursing
Document Type
Article
Publication Source
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Publication Date
2015-01-01
Volume
32
Issue
3
First Page
269
Last Page
274
Abstract
© The Author(s) 2014 End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are well documented throughout history and across cultures with impact on the dying person and their loved ones having profound meaning. Published studies on ELDVs are primarily based on surveys or interviews with clinicians or families of dead persons. This study uniquely examined patient dreams and visions from their personal perspective. This article reports the qualitative findings from dreams and visions of 63 hospice patients. Inductive content analysis was used to examine the content and subjective significance of ELDVs. Six categories emerged: comforting presence, preparing to go, watching or engaging with the deceased, loved ones waiting, distressing experiences, and unfinished business.
Keywords
dreams, dying, end of life, end-of-life care, end-of-life experiences, visions
DOI
10.1177/1049909113517291
Recommended Citation
Nosek, Cheryl L.; Kerr, Christopher W.; Woodworth, Julie; Wright, Scott T.; Grant, Pei C.; Kuszczak, Sarah M.; Banas, Anne; Luczkiewicz, Debra L.; and Depner, Rachel M., "End-of-Life Dreams and Visions: A Qualitative Perspective From Hospice Patients" (2015). Articles & Book Chapters. 253.
https://digitalcommons.daemen.edu/faculty_scholar/253
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909113517291