The emotional labour of caring for patients at the end of life

End of Life Journal, 2014 Spring, Vol/iss 4/1

Deborah Holman

This article will discuss the emotional labour of nursing - defined as the emotional cost to nurses of managing, hiding and suppressing their emotions - and explore the significance and therapeutic value of emotional labour in the lives of patients at the end of life. It will then discuss the implications of emotional labour for the nursing profession in relation to the need to ensure nurses receive more support and education regarding managing their emotions whilst caring for others.

Fulltext available in End of Life Journal