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After the end of their time as a caregiver, former caregivers have needs and feelings that have been subject to little study to date. The aim of the study is to determine and analyse the feelings, perceptions and practices of former caregivers in the reconstruction of their daily lives. This is a qualitative study based on the Grounded Theory developed by Charmaz. The study involved 14 former caregivers who had cared for their relative for more than 2 years and who had stopped caring for them more than 2 years previously. Fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted and data were collected over 13 months between 2015 and 2017. Data were analysed using the Grounded Theory Method. In addition, this study was approved by the ethics committee of the Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol. The former caregiver experiences a transition, which begins in the days before the death of their relative and may continue for more than 3 years. Three critical moments in the post-caring transition were found: (1) the post-caring emptiness; (2) the end of the period as a caregiver; and (3) the movement towards a new life. Family and professional support is needed during this transition. Former caregivers experience a transition in the rebuilding of their daily lives; furthermore, former caregivers may be a source of support for other caregivers, which is linked to positive mental health factors. Healthcare organisations need to acknowledge the emotional, psychosocial and psychological health of former caregivers.

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AIM: To compare the patient acuity, nurse staffing and workforce, missed nursing care and patient outcomes among hospital unit-clusters. BACKGROUND: Relationships among acuity, nurse staffing and workforce, missed nursing care and patient outcomes are not completely understood. METHOD: Descriptive design with data from four unit-clusters: medical, surgical, combined and step-down units. Descriptive statistics were used to compare acuity, nurse staffing coverage, education and expertise, missed nursing care and selected nurse-sensitive outcomes. RESULTS: Patient acuity in general (medical, surgical and combined) floors is similar to step-down units, with an average of 5.6 required RN hours per patient day. In general wards, available RN hours per patient day reach only 50% of required RN hours to meet patient needs. Workforce measures are comparable among unit-clusters, and average missed nursing care is 21%. Patient outcomes vary among unit-clusters. CONCLUSION: Patient acuity is similar among unit-clusters, while nurse staffing coverage is halved in general wards. While RN education, expertise and missed care are comparable among unit-clusters, mortality, skin injuries and risk of family compassion fatigue rates are higher in general wards. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers play a pivotal role in hustling policymakers to address structural understaffing in general wards, to maximize patient safety outcomes.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify which are the needs arised from feelings, perceptions and experiences of the family members during any time within the death process in an emergency service of an acute care hospital, with regard to the assistance received. BACKGROUND: The publications refer to the needs expressed by bereaved families, who explain the support they received right after the death of a relative in an emergency service, and during the months after the tragedy. DESIGN: Qualitative study drawing on grounded theory based on Charmaz (2006). METHODS: Ten interviews were conducted to a member of each family, who had been in an emergency service with a relative during any of the stages of the dying process. Data were collected from September 2015-June 2016. The analysis was made while data were being collected. Three types of codification were carried out: open, axial and selective. Theoretical saturation was achieved after data collection and analysis. RESULTS: Three thematic categories emerged: the power of information/communication (a), decisions taken by professionals within the dimension of caring (b) and the humanisation of death in emergency services (c). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of the information given to families in the process of death in an emergency service affects to their satisfaction. Family support must be essential in a situation of death. Institutions must guarantee standards of practice, which include orientation on the care of people in bereavement, and the commitment to provide specialised attention those families. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Research findings reveal the need to create changes within clinical practice, regarding how to take care of the family involved in a death process in an emergency service. From the needs detected by the participants, it could be possible to implement an interventional programme, which offers the relatives the emotional support they may need.

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