• Susan Slatyer, Catherine Pienaar, Anne M Williams, Karen Proctor, and Laura Hewitt.
• School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
• J Clin Nurs. 2015 Aug 1; 24 (15-16): 2164-74.

Aims And ObjectivesTo explore the experiences and perceptions of hospital staff caring for dying patients in a dedicated patient/family room (named Lotus Room).BackgroundDying in hospital is a common outcome for people across the world. However, noise and activity in acute environments present barriers to quality end-of-life care. This is of concern because care provided to dying patients has been shown to affect both the patients and the bereaved families.DesignA qualitative descriptive approach was used.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 multidisciplinary staff and seven families provided information through an investigator-developed instrument.ResultsQualitative data analysis generated three categories describing: Dying in an hospital; The Lotus Room; and the Outcomes for patients and families. The Lotus Room was seen as a large, private and, ultimately, safe space for patients and families within the public hospital environment. Family feedback supported staff perspectives that the Lotus Room facilitated family presence and communication.ConclusionsThe privacy afforded by the Lotus Room within this acute hospital provided benefits for the dying patients and grieving families. Improved outcomes included a peaceful death for patients, which may have assisted the family with their bereavement.Relevance To Clinical PracticeThis study provides evidence of how the physical environment can address well-established barriers to quality end-of-life care in acute hospitals.© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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