ABSTRACT
Since the early 1960’s, there have been numerous articles in nursing literature dealing with the topic of death, yet there is still a noticeable lack of empirical study of a group of dying patients to determine their nursing needs. Many articles and studies are accounts of one nurse caring for one dying patient and relating her experience with that patient (Carson, 1971; Eisman, 1971; Hoffman, 1971). Other articles deal with attitudes of patients and personnel about the topic of death (Quint, 1967; Sudnow, 1965). Nurses must get more involved in researching and reporting clinical findings if they are to prove that nursing can and does offer a unique service to the dying patient.
