An analysis on emotional management and its effects of oncology nurses to patients

Abstract

Emotional management plays a significant role in staffing management and patient care in the nursing profession. Nursing is implicitly emotional because providing comfort and care to patients and their relatives is a passionate and sensitive effort. Providing oncology nurses, the tools they require to have a deeper comprehension of social and psychological dynamics is a key component of the sociological perspective in nursing's mission. This qualitative study attempts to understand better the emotional processes and management employed by oncology nurses. Such research also contributes to a greater comprehension of the psychological and emotional toll. Eight oncology nurses working in the Haemtology ward within the Sir Anthony Mamo oncology centre participated in one-on-one semi-structured interview in person or via videoconference. Three themes emerged from these interviews and were classified as follows: Management of emotions, grief, and support. Through eight semi-structured interviews, the researcher identified how nurses in the haematology-oncology sector recognise and control their own emotions and how this impacts the care they provide to patients. Several factors, including burnout, understaffing, lack of time, and lack of hospital management support, impede the nurse-patient relationship, resulting in the absence of compassion for the sick individual. Due to the paucity of research on the nature of emotional management in palliative care in Malta, this study recommends that more research is conducted.