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Aim: To identify and synthesize the experiences and attitudes of nursing staff regarding the deaths of COVID‐19 patients. Review Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis was carried out, using Noblit and Hare's meta‐ethnographic approach. The review protocol was listed in PROSPERO (CRD42022330928). Studies published from January 2020 to January 2022 that met the criteria were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, CUIDEN and PsycInfo. A total of 12 articles were included. Results: Thirty‐three metaphors emerged, which were grouped into three main themes: Determining factors of care, Feelings about death and Strategies for coping with death. Nurses reported the high emotional toll, the absence of family and the lack of staff, protocol and training as determining factors. Furthermore, staff had doubts about the quality of care that COVID‐19 patients received. As coping strategies, nurses developed avoidance behaviours towards COVID‐19 patients, selective memories, resilience, and/or leaving the profession. Conclusions: The difficulty in providing adequate nursing care and the high number of deaths has increased anxiety and stress among nurses. These factors, alongside their lived experiences of seeing patients suffering, many dying alone without family members, have had psychological repercussions on nursing staff. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: The results demonstrate a high emotional toll and doubts surrounding their caregiving role caused by the lack of professional training needed to face a pandemic. This research shows what has been learned for future pandemics and highlights basic components that could provide a foundation for coping interventions for healthcare professionals. Impact: What Problem did the Study Address?: The challenges posed by COVID‐19 patient deaths for nursing staff around the world and also by the pandemic circumstances in which those deaths occurred. What were the Main Findings?: The high number of deceased patients who were isolated from family members, communication with family members and doubts surrounding care given during the pandemic have created feelings of fear, stress and anxiety, as well as obsessive thoughts that have changed nursing staff's perception of death due to COVID‐19. Where and on whom will the Research have an Impact?: Results will be useful for preparing for future pandemics, and for policymakers and health staff in supporting healthcare professionals by creating programmes to help them cope with the emotional toll they have felt after dealing with death in such unprecedented circumstances. Reporting Method: The authors have adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the eMERGe Reporting Guidance. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject: Nurses working at nursing homes can play a pivotal role in mental health as a high proportion of residents diagnosed with dementia are in these facilities.Many institutionalized residents diagnosed with dementia develop clinical complications and symptoms that reduce the quality of dying.A mixed‐methods approach can help nurses with the difficult task of assessing the quality of dying among these residents and identify inconsistencies that cannot be found using scales alone, but no studies were found in this topic. What the paper adds to existing knowledge: Through the Quality of dying in Long‐Term Care Scale (QoD‐LTC), nurses described symptom management, quality of care, and end‐of‐life appearance as adequate and end‐of‐life communication as lacking.Generally speaking, the scores on the scale were consistent with the data from semi‐structured interviews conducted with nurses.In the semi‐structured interviews, some of the concepts on the scale, including 'dignity', 'holistic' care, 'good relationships with healthcare professionals', and 'a peaceful death', are complex and not fully incorporated into nurses' practice in nursing homes when assessing residents diagnosed with dementia. This could be improved by using the SENSES Model or person‐centred care frameworks. What are the implications for practice?: There is evidence of shortcomings among professionals in the correct use of concepts linked to psychological wellbeing, communication, therapeutic relationship, safety and participation, preservation of dignity, decision‐making, and resident autonomy, which can be addressed using specific theoretical approaches developed in the field of mental health nursing. Introduction: The complex nature of end‐of‐life assessment of individuals diagnosed with dementia would benefit from a mixed‐methods approach that simultaneously assess the perception and response of nurses to standardized tools. Aim/Question: To examine nursing professionals' perceptions of the quality of dying among residents diagnosed with dementia using the Quality of Dying in Long‐Term Care settings (QoD‐LTC) questionnaire and to identify consistencies and inconsistencies in their narratives. Method: Mixed‐methods study using concurrent triangulation with data integration for results and interpretation. Nurses from eight nursing homes assessed 117 residents diagnosed with dementia who died in the previous 3 months using the QoD‐LTC scale. After informed consent was obtained (nurses/caregivers), 17 semi‐structured scale‐based interviews were conducted. Results: Symptom management, quality of care, and end‐of‐life appearance were found to be adequate, while end‐of‐life communication was deemed insufficient. The qualitative and quantitative data were consistent for most of the items on the QoD‐LTC. Discussion: Concepts such as dignity, holistic care, good relationships, and peaceful death are complex and not fully incorporated into professional practice. Implications for Practice: The results highlight the need for greater involvement of mental health nurses as well as improved communication, training, and specific tools tailored to residents diagnosed with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To develop and pilot the DD‐14 scale, a 14‐indicator scale based on the Nursing Outcome Classification "Dignified life closure" (1307). METHODS: Sixteen experts selected 14 indicators for Spanish populations. Six care home nurses piloted the scale in 50 terminal patients without cognitive impairment. Factorial and reliability analyses were performed and correlations were determined with dependency, symptomatology, and palliative care quality. FINDINGS: DD‐14 demonstrated high reliability (α = 0.916) and a stable factorial structure. It was not influenced by sex, age, or disease and correlated positively with the Barthel index (r =.622; p =.00) and negatively with the Palliative Outcome Scale (r = −.542;p =.00). CONCLUSIONS: DD‐14 is a useful scale for evaluating end‐of‐life dignity. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This instrument could be useful in planning nursing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]