Experiences of suffering among elderly hip‐fracture patients during the preoperative period: patients’ and nurse's perspective

Abstract

There exist differences between how the nursing staff, the youngest and the oldest elderly patients experienced the preoperative period and what can enhance or alleviate their suffering. Where the youngest elderly communicated safety through trust and relatives' presence, the oldest elderly communicated insecurity in relation to staff and experienced severe pain and loneliness. Nursing staff and one patient emphasised the importance of seeing the patient in the first meeting to establish a feeling of security.