THE ROLES OF HOME HEALTH CARE NURSES FOR END-OF-LIFE PATIENTS ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHIST WAY OF LIFE

Abstract

           World Health Organization has given the meaning of caring for end-of-life patients aiming to improve the quality of life for both patients and families, which are facing life-threatening illnesses, regardless of the disease by focusing on the treatment of symptoms that cause suffering from physical, mental, social, and holistic spiritual problems. Nurses play an important role in taking care of patients into the final stage of peace (peaceful death) or dignity. Home-visit nurses realize the importance of being a central role in patient evaluation, thus these nurses collaborate and provide assistance to patients with compassion, sincerity, and patience until they can receive good cooperation from patients, families, hospitals, and communities. This situation affects the home-visit nurses to be able to clearly show themselves and feel proud of their jobs, raising their happiness, which in turn improve their working behavior. This is an important attitude of nurses who treat mentally fragile end-of-life patients so, they can receive good care according to the Buddhist way of life. Phra Thammamongkonyan (2013) stated that only merit can be a reliance for us when running out of breath. There are 3ways of merit.