Publications
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Hol, Hege Bente; Vatne, Solfrid; Strømskag, Kjell Erik; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Rokstad, Anne Marie Mork
(2022).
Norwegian nurses' perceptions of assisted dying requests from terminally ill patients : a qualitative interview study.
Nursing Inquiry (NI).
ISSN 1320-7881.
30(1),
p. 1–9.
doi:
10.1111/nin.12517.
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This study explores the perceptions of Norwegian nurses who have receivedassisted dying requests from terminally ill patients. Assisted dying is illegal inNorway, while in some countries, it is an option. Nurses caring for terminally illpatients may experience ethical challenges by receiving requests for euthanasia andassisted suicide. We applied a qualitative research design with a phenomenologicalhermeneutic approach using open individual interviews. A total of 15 registerednurses employed in pulmonary and oncology wards of three university hospitals andhome care in one municipality were recruited. Four themes emerged from theanalysis: (1) unprepared for the request; (2) meeting direct, indirect, and nonverbalrequests; (3) working in a gray zone, and (4) feeling alone and powerless. The studyfound that nurses were unsure how to handle such requests due to professionaluncertainty about assisted dying. Working in an environment where the topic istaboo made nurses morally uncertain, and some perceived this as moral distress. Thehospital chaplain played a significant role in providing support to these nurses.
Keywords: assisted dying requests, ethical challenge, interviews, moral distress, moral uncertainty, nurses'experiences, phenomenological hermeneutic design
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Hol, Hege Bente; Vatne, Solfrid; Orøy, Aud Jorun; Rokstad, Anne Marie Mork & Opdal, Øivind
(2022).
Norwegian nurses' attitudes toward assisted dying : a cross-sectional study.
Nursing: Research and Reviews.
2022(12),
p. 101–109.
doi:
10.2147/NRR.S363670.
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Purpose: The purpose was to investigate: (a) Norwegian nurses’ attitudes toward assisted dying, and (b) how much nurses receive requests from terminally ill patients for help in dying.
Participants and Methods: A quantitative explorative study was conducted using a web-based cross-sectional survey to collect data. The survey was sent to a total of 734 eligible participants, and 205 clinical nurses participated by completing the survey. Data were analyzed using bivariate statistics and multivariate ordinal regression.
Results: The study revealed that 56% of the participating nurses agreed with the statement that physician-assisted suicide should be allowed, and 48% supported legalization of euthanasia. Nurses in pulmonary wards were more positive about the legalization of physician-assisted suicide (OR = 2.98, CI = 1.34– 6.66, p = 0.008) and euthanasia (OR = 3.51, CI = 1.58– 7.81, p = 0.002) than nurses in oncological wards. Nurses over 30 years old held more negative attitudes about physician-assisted suicide than younger nurses (OR = 0.16, CI = 0.07– 0.39, p
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Synnes, Oddgeir; Orøy, Aud Jorun; Råheim, Målfrid; Bachmann, Liv; Ekra, Else Mari Ruberg & Gjengedal, Eva
[Show all 12 contributors for this article]
(2020).
Finding ways to carry on : stories of vulnerability in chronic illness.
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being.
ISSN 1748-2623.
15(1),
p. 1–13.
doi:
10.1080/17482631.2020.1819635.
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Purpose: In this study, we explore the lived experiences of chronic illness in four groups of patients; children with asthma, adolescents with diabetes, young adults with depression, and adult patients with chronic, obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Persons living with chronic illness are often designated as vulnerable. This study builds on the assumption that being vulnerable belongs to being human, and that vulnerability also might entail strength and possibilities for growth.
Methods: A narrative analysis was undertaken to illuminate how experiences of vulnerability were narrated across the four patient groups, presenting four individual stories, one from each of the patient groups.
Results/conclusion: The stories illuminate how living with a chronic illness implies differing capabilities and capacities dependent on the specific condition. At the same time the stories point to how various abilities and challenges in living with chronic illness can be alleviated or seen as resources. Considered together, the stories underscore how ´finding ways to carry on´ in chronic illness requires interpretational work. By calling upon resources among significant others, in the surroundings and in oneself, the narrator can find ways of interpreting living with chronic illness that might open towards a hopeful future.
Keywords: chronic illness, vulnerability, narrative analysis, life
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Orøy, Aud Jorun; Strømskag, Kjell Erik & Gjengedal, Eva
(2015).
Do we treat individuals as patients or as potential donors? : a phenomenological study of healthcare professionals’ experiences.
Nursing Ethics.
ISSN 0969-7330.
22(2),
p. 163–175.
doi:
10.1177/0969733014523170.
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Background: Organ donation and transplantation have made it possible to both save life and to improve
the quality of life for a large number of patients. In the last years there has been an increasing gap between
the number of patients who need organs and organs available for transplantation, and the focus worldwide
has been on how to meet the organ shortage. This also rises some ethical challenges.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore healthcare professionals’ experience of ethics
related to care and interaction with critically ill patients with severe brain injuries and their families.
Research design: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to explore the participants’
experiences. Methods for collecting datawere a combination of participant observations and in-depth interviews.
Participants and research context: Two ICUs in a Norwegian university hospital were recruited for data
collection.Atotalof 12 caseswereobserved, and 32 of the healthcare professionals involvedwere interviewed.
Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Research Ethics.
Permission to the study in the ICUs was obtained from the Chief Physician in the two ICUs respectively.
The right of the participants was ensured by written, voluntary, and informed consent.
Findings: Fromthe thematic analysis, a structure of the participants’ experiences emerged as a process.While
the patients’ conditionwas clarified through phases of prognostic ambiguity, gradual clarification and prognostic
certainty, interaction with the families was characterized by ambiguity that involved withholding. The
prognostic process had a great impact on how the healthcare professionals interacted with the family. The
interaction challenged the participants’ caring values in various ways and captured an important structure in
their experiences of the ethical interaction with the patients’ families. These challenges distinguish caring for
families in donation situations from caring for relatives of critically ill patients in general.
Discussion: In the discussion we have illuminated how professional ethics may be threatened by more pragmatic and utilitarian arguments contained in regulations and transplant act.
Conclusion: Ethical questions should be discussed more both in educations of healthcare professionals and in
clinical practice.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn; Strømskag, Kjell Erik & Gjengedal, Eva
(2013).
Approaching families on the subject of organ donation : a phenomenological study of the experience of healthcare professionals.
Intensive and Critical Care Nursing.
ISSN 0964-3397.
29(4),
p. 202–211.
doi:
10.1016/j.iccn.2013.02.003.
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The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences and gain a deeper understanding of interactions with families when approaching the subject of organ donation. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to explore the participants’ experiences. Data were collected through a combination of observation and in-depth interviews with nurses, physicians and hospital chaplains recruited from two intensive care units (ICUs) in a Norwegian university hospital. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and three main themes emerged from this analysis: crucial timing, challenging conversations and conflicting expectations. The results revealed that the situation was of a sensitive nature and that finding the best possible time to address the issue in a meaningful manner was a challenge. Respect for the patients’ wishes and the families’ decisions were an expressed value among the participants, but conflicting expectations about bringing up the subject were also present. This study contributes to the understanding of healthcare professionals’ challenges when they are facing brain death as an inevitable outcome of a patient's clinical condition and must approach families on the subject of organ donation.
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Gjengedal, Eva; Ekra, Else Mari Ruberg; Hol, Hege Bente; Kjelsvik, Marianne; Lykkeslet, Else & Michaelsen, Ragnhild K A
[Show all 11 contributors for this article]
(2013).
Vulnerability in health care – reflections on encounters in every day practice.
Nursing Philosophy.
ISSN 1466-7681.
14(2),
p. 127–138.
doi:
10.1111/j.1466-769X.2012.00558.x.
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Vulnerability is a human condition and as such a constant human experience. However, patients and professional health care providers may be regarded as more vulnerable than people who do not suffer or witness suffering on a regular basis. Acquiring a deeper understanding of vulnerability would thus be of crucial importance for health care providers. This article takes as its point of departure Derek Sellman's and Havi Carel's discussion on vulnerability in this journal. Through different examples from the authors' research focusing on the interaction between health professionals and patients, existential, contextual, and relational dimensions of vulnerability are illuminated and discussed. Two main strategies in the professionals' interactions with patients are described. The strategy that aims at understanding the patients or families from the professional's own personal perspective oftentimes ends in excess attention to the professional's own reactions, thereby impairing the ability to help. The other strategy attempts to understand the patients or families from the patients' or families' own perspective. This latter strategy seems to make vulnerability bearable or even transform it into strength. Being sensitive to the vulnerability of the other may be a key to acting ethically.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn; Strømskag, Kjell Erik & Gjengedal, Eva
(2011).
Interaction with potential donors’ families : the professionals’ community of concern - a phenomenological study.
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being.
ISSN 1748-2623.
6(1),
p. 1–11.
doi:
10.3402/qhw.v6i1.5479.
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The aim of this paper was to explore the health professionals’ experiences and gain a deeper understanding of interaction
with families of critically ill or traumatized patients with severe brain injuries. The methodological approach was qualitative
and phenomenological. Data were collected through participant observation and in-depth interviews with nurses,
physicians, and chaplains working in two ICUs in a Norwegian university hospital. A thematic analysis was used for
analyzing data. Two main themes emerged from analysis: Patient oriented even when present and Family oriented even when
absent. Each main theme is divided into two sub-themes. The themes appeared as phases in an interaction process. In the
two first phases the interaction may be characterized as Alternating between being absent and present and Following up and
withholding information and in the two last phases as Turning point and changing focus and Partly present when waiting for death.
The findings are in the discussion illuminated by the phenomenological concept of concern. Concern is visible as care, and
the distinction in care between ‘‘leaps in’’ and ‘‘leaps ahead’’ and ‘‘ready-to-hand’’ and ‘‘unready-to-hand’’ are topics in the
discussion. Because of the complexity of caring for both patient and family, the situation demands efforts to relieve nurses in
particular, during the most demanding phases of the process.
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Alteren, Johanne; Orøy, Aud Jorun; Os, Ann Helen Løvik; Unhjem, Jeanette Varpen; Lillebostad, Malene & Jordan, Sue
(2025).
Sykepleieledet kartlegging av legemiddelbruk i kommunehelsetjenesten. Et samarbeid mellom Høgskolen i Molde, Aukra kommune og Swansea University Wales UK.
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Orøy, Aud Jorun & Dolonen, Kari Anne
(2024).
Her kan nyutdannede sykepleiere gå rett på masterløp: – Første gang vi gjør dette i Norge.
[Journal].
sykepleien.no.
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Fra høsten kan nyutdannede sykepleiere fra Høgskolen i Molde hoppe rett på masterutdanning i avansert klinisk allmennsykepleie (AKS).
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Sundal, Hildegunn; Ulvund, Ingeborg; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Alteren, Johanne
(2023).
35 forskere deltok på helsefaglig fenomenologi-seminar på Molde campus.
Panorama : nettavis for Høgskolen i Molde.
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Dyb-Sandvik, Idun; Bordal, Martine; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Hagen, Rigmor Sjaastad
(2023).
Idun (36) og Martine (28) var først ferdig: – Stas!
[Journal].
Romsdals Budstikke Pluss .
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Dyb-Sandvik, Idun; Bordal, Martine; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Hagen, Rigmor Sjaastad
(2023).
Idun (36) og Martine (28) var først ferdig: – Stas!
[Journal].
Sunnmørsposten Pluss.
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Julnes, Signe Gunn; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Hovde, Katharina
(2021).
Nytt tilbud på Høgskolen fra neste høst: – Skal imøtekomme økte kompetansekrav.
[Journal].
Romsdals Budstikke.
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Rønning, Solrun Brenk; Hoemsnes, Helene; Solheim, Inger Helen; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Dale, Karl Yngvar
(2018).
Kan økt kompetanse imøtekomme behov i regionen?
p. 12–12.
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Rønning, Solrun Brenk; Hoemsnes, Helene; Solheim, Inger Helen; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Dale, Karl Yngvar
(2018).
Kan økt kompetanse imøtekomme behov i regionen?
p. 22–22.
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Rønning, Solrun Brenk; Hoemsnes, Helene; Solheim, Inger Helen; Orøy, Aud Jorun & Dale, Karl Yngvar
(2018).
Kan økt kompetanse imøtekomme behov i regionen? : nasjonale føringer for kompetanse innen helse- sosial og velferdstjenester er tydelige.
p. 40–40.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn & Øvrelid, Torild
(2011).
Videreutdanning i omsorg ved alvorlig sykdom og død. Nytt kurs ved Høgskolen i Molde.
[Radio].
NRK Møre og Romsdal Morgensending.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2011).
Hva kan høgskolen bidra med i forhold til de utfordringer som helsepolitiske føringer medfører? : Videreutdanning; omsorg ved alvorlig sykdom og død.
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Gjengedal, Eva; Lykkeslet, Else; Orøy, Aud Jorunn; Michaelsen, Ragnhild K A; Sundal, Hildegunn & Skrondal, Torill Helene
[Show all 8 contributors for this article]
(2010).
Vulnerable groups’ experiences as basis for health care interaction.
In Krycka, Kevin C (Eds.),
29th International Human Science Research Conference : Giving Voice to Experience. Seattle University, August 4-8, 2010.
Seattle University College of Arts and Sciences.
p. 17–17.
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Vulnerability is a characteristic of human existence. Therefore, it plays an important part in almost all
human interaction, in particular with "significant others", like family members and health care workers. In
the context of the health care system some patient groups are regarded as particularly vulnerable, and
therefore represent a challenge for health care providers. For example, major mentally ill patients are
regarded as a particularly vulnerable group. Research in mental health care has indicated that the
professionals try to avoid conflicting situations with these patients, using various subtle or covert coercion
strategies. Such strategies may be regarded as indistinct and non-therapeutic. An alternative approach
would be to rely on empathy, self-reflection and self-limitation. Similar strategies may be found in other
situations with other groups. The aim of the panel presentation is to give voice to the experiences of
different groups who are considered as vulnerable and to professionals who are interacting with such
groups. Potential patterns in the experiences across the groups will be elaborated. Finally, the aim is to
discuss how knowledge about these experiences can contribute to improved interaction. There will be
given a short presentation of four phenomenological qualitative studies of interactions with vulnerable
groups along the lifespan. These groups are hospitalized children and their parents, persons with
dementia, hospitalized mentally ill persons, and intensive care providers’ interaction with families to
donor patients. Some findings from these studies will be presented as condensed descriptions illustrating
experience of vulnerability and fragility as well as challenges related to interaction. Further, experiences
with interactions across the different groups that seem to both fail and succeed will be visualized.
Preliminary results indicate that taking vulnerable patients’ experiences into consideration may ease their situation and improve quality of health care. These preliminary findings will be further elaborated in the
presentation.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2006).
Utfordringer ved bruk av observasjon og intervju ved en fenomenologisk tilnærming i kvalitativ forskning.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2005).
Death, and it's gift to life : a phenomenological study of the experiences of organ donors' relatives during the organ-donation process.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2005).
Døden i spenningsfeltet mellom natur og kultur : en kritisk drøfting av et hjernerelatert dødskriterium.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2004).
"Døden i livets tjeneste" : en fenomenologisk studie av pårørendes opplevelser og erfaringer i forbindelse med spørsmålet om organdonasjon.
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Temaet for denne studien er "hjernedød" og organdonasjon. Med utgangspunkt i dette har jeg valgt pårørende som målgruppe, og jeg har valgt å fokusere på pårørende til akutt og kritisk syke pasienter som får et spørsmål om organdonasjon når en skade eller intrakranial sykdom ikke er forenlig med liv. I denne studien dreier det seg om pårørende til pasienter med alvorlige hodeskader og intrakraniale blødninger, som er erklært hjernedøde. Formålet med studien er å fremskaffe empirisk materiale for å belyse pårørendes opplevelser av det som skjer før, under og etter at spørsmålet om organdonasjon er lagt frem. Dette for å få en dypere forståelse av hvordan det er å være pårørende i en slik situasjon. For å få tilgang til forskningsfeltet, har jeg hatt samarbeid med to anestesileger fra to ulike sykehus. Disse har funnet frem til og forespurt pårørende, innhentet samtykke-erklæring samt vært den pårørende kunne henvende seg til i ettertid, dersom de hadde behov for det. Metoden for innsamling av data har vært det kvalitative forskningsintervju med en semistrukturert intervjuguide. Studien bygger på intervju med 8 pårørende fra 7 ulike situasjoner. 4 av disse har sagt ja til organdonasjon og 3 har sagt nei til organdonasjon. Intervjuene foregikk hjemme hos pårørende i tiden fra 8 måneder til 2 år etter dødsfallet. Lengden på intervjuene varierte fra 1-1 3/4 time. I analysen av data har jeg brukt trinnene i Georgis' fenomenologiske analysemetode. En metode som bringer forskeren fra naiv beskrivelse til syntese eller struktur, og som fremstiller essensen i fenomenet som er under utforsking. Metoden omfatter fenomenologisk reduksjon, beskrivelse og utforsking av fenomenets vesen. Essensen i funnene viser en prosess, som handler om følgende områder: Begynnelsen på slutten, Slutten, Spørsmålet, Avskjeden, Den første tiden, Livet går videre og Døden i livets tjeneste. Pårørendes sårbarhet er gjennomgående i alle deler av prosessen og varer langt utover den tiden da helsepersonalet vanligvis har kontakt med dem. Sentralt i dette er at spørsmålet om organdonasjon er en ny type problematikk som legges frem for pårørende i en sårbar situasjon. Spørsmålet om organdonasjon kan derfor ikke ses på som et isolert fenomen, men som en del av den helheten det inngår i. Helsepersonalets håndtering av denne komplekse problematikken har betydning for hvordan de opplever dette. For å få frem alle stemningene som er knyttet til dette materialet har jeg hatt et samarbeid med kunstneren Ørnulf Opdahl. Sju dramatiske naturskildringer visualiserer essensen i funnene.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2002).
"Death, and it's gift to life" : a phenomenological study of the experiences of organ donors' relatives during the organ-donation process.
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This study deals with brain dead and organ-donation, and the relatives' experiences with the organ-donation process. The purpose of this study was to investigate what the relatives of the pronounced brain-dead patients' experiences during the anticipation, confrontation and post confrontation stages of the organ-donation process. The method used is qualitative and phenomenological. The data were obtained by in-depth interviews with eight relatives, from seven different situations. All of them had lost a loved one suddenly. Four of them consented to donation and three of them did not consent to donation. The relatives were interviewed in a period of about 8 month and 2 years after the death occured, and the interview took place in the family's home. Data were analyzed by Giorgi's phenomenologically inspired four-step method. The purpose of the study was to discover the most important characteristics of the relatives experiences during the organ-donation process. Findings showed the following process: The beginning of the end; The end; The question; Farewell; The time afterwards; Life goes on; Death, -and it's gift to life. Findings showed that the question about using organs' from the brain-dead patient presented an additional problem for the relatives in an already vulnerable situation. The question of organ-donation can not be seen as an isolated phenomenon, but as an integrated part of the organ-donation process. My study further showed that the ability of the personell to create calmness in a chaotic situation and the attitude of the personell was of the greatest importance to the relatives.
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2001).
Døden i livets tjeneste : en fenomenologisk studie av pårørendes opplevelser og erfaringer i forbindelse med spørsmålet om organdonasjon.
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Temaet for dette prosjektet er hjernedød og organdonasjon. Med utgangspunkt i dette, har jeg valgt pårørende som målgruppe og jeg har valgt å fokusere på pårørende til akutt og kritisk syke pasienter som får spørsmålet om organdonasjon, når det viser seg at en skade eller intrakraniell sykdom ikke er forenlig med live. Dette vil i hovedsak dreie seg om pårørende til pasienter med alvorlige hodeskader, hypoxiske hjerneskader eller intrakranielle blødninger, og som er erklært hjernedøde.
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Rønsen, Astrid; Winger, Anette; Steindal, Simen Alexander; Thomassen, Solveig Margaret; Sønning, Hildegunn Ervik & Orøy, Aud Jorun
[Show all 7 contributors for this article]
(2020).
Høringsuttalelse om Meld.St.24(2019-2020) - Lindrende behandling og omsorg. Vi skal alle dø en dag. Men alle andre dager skal vi leve.
Faglig nettverk for post bachelor utdanninger innen palliativ omsorg på universitet og høgskoler..
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Høring på Stortinget 30.09.2020
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Orøy, Aud Jorunn
(2002).
Døden i livets tjeneste : en fenomenologisk studie av pårørendes opplevelser og erfaringer i forbindelse med spørsmålet om organdonasjon.
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Published Sep. 3, 2018 3:05 PM
- Last modified Jan. 22, 2026 10:40 AM
