Qualitative Interviews with Registered Nurses who Work Concurrently as a Death Doula

This White Paper reports on the views and experiences of eight registered nurses working concurrently as death doulas, and how they maintained and separated expected responsibilities, legal requirements, and codes of conduct in the two roles. Through semi-structured interviews, case studies and thematic analysis, our research team found that for those registered nurses who participated in the study, most didn’t understand that nursing codes of conduct always applied
and that for those working – or considering working – concurrently in a non-medical role, it is incumbent upon them to check whether their nursing registration overrides relevant death doula codes of conduct.

The study concluded that registered nurses who are interested in working concurrently as a death doula need to apply caution in developing death doula contracts with patients and families.

Ultimately, it is hoped that this White Paper will contribute to an awareness among registered nurses that the adoption of a concurrent role as a death doula should be carefully considered, and that advice should be sought from their national nursing registration organisation in view of the possible tension between the responsibilities, legal requirements, and codes of conduct applicable to each role.