LIFE SUPPORT USE: PERCEPTION OF THE NURSING STAFF IN HAEMATO ONCOLOGY.

The aim was to understand the perception of the nursing staff of a haemato-oncology inpatient unit on the use of life support in case of offend-of-life situations. This is qualitative research, with 23 professionals from nursing staff (nurses, nursing technicians and nursing assistants) of a teaching Hospital in southern Brazil. For the production of the data the semi-directed interview was used, recorded during September and October 2013, being interpreted by category content analysis. The results evidenced the dilemma in which the use of vital support is perceived as suffering for the terminally-ill patient, but cannot be dissociated from care practices. It is concluded that the perceptions of the nursing staff is ambiguous, due to the different sentiments caused by the use of technologywith the terminally ill. Thus, it may be considered that approach and reflections during training can help to minimize the conflicts in professional performance.