Joana Bragança, nurse in the Continuing and Palliative Care Unit of Hospital da Luz Lisboa, concluded her doctorate degree in Nursing, last May 27, at the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP). Her thesis – entitled “Nursing Diagnosis of Terminal Syndrome in end-of-life adults: Clinical validation study” – earned the unanimous approval of the jury with distinction ( Summa Cum Laude – grade of 20). Along the research work for her thesis, Joana Bragança analysed the clinical files of 493 patients in an estimated total of 18,678 nursing records. The study has identified and allowed to conclude that: The defining characteristics of terminal syndrome show robust and consistent expression in the last 30 days of life. Age, degree of functional dependence, and the oncologic nature of the disease significantly influence the presence of the defining characteristics. Three distinctive clinical profiles were identified in the last three days of life. Altogether, these results reinforce the validity of the syndrome associated to end-of-life model. The scientific evidence provided by Joana Bragança has significantly contributed for the alteration and inclusion of the term “end of life” in NANDA-I classification system (International Nanda organization), one of the standardized nursing languages most used worldwide. The thesis has had Sílvia Caldeira and Lurdes Martins as advisors, both teaching at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, UCP. In the photo above , the new doctor and the jury: Manuel Luís Capelas (UCP), Ana Mineiro (UCP), Joana Bragança, Sílvia Caldeira, Paula Sapeta (Health School Dr Lopes Dias), Patrícia Alves (Lisbon Nursing School), José Manuel Pereira de Almeida (UCP vice-dean), and Lurdes Martins.
