Philippine E-Journals

“Hope Within Hopelessness”: The Lives of Families Whose Member is on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Status”

Rushel Berdeguel | Rudolf Cymorr Kirby Martinez

Discipline: Mental Health Nursing

 

Abstract:

This study explored the experience of families whose member is on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) status. Descriptive phenomenology was utilized as the philosophical underpinning of the study. After obtaining the appropriate ethics clearances, seven (7) participants were selected to be co-researchers of the study based on preset criteria. Multiple interviews were done, tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim to form the narratives of the study. Further, the approach espoused by van Manen was employed as the process of reflective explication of the narratives of the co-researchers. From the process, three themes were revealed. They are as follows: (1) in a suspended reality, (2) bargaining with time, and (3) restless in a resting place. These themes are the overarching patterns of the lives of the co-researchers. Further reflection from these themes generated the essence of the co-researchers lives, encapsulated by the phrase “Hope within Hopelessness”. Insights from the study suggest that the co-researchers continue to have a glimmer of hope even though the overall context of their experience is that of hopelessness since they seem to have attributed DNR with imminent death. The importance of proper and effective dialogical communication from the health care provider is further implied from the insights of this study.