The (in)completeness of the older ampute: An experience of nursing care

Severo-Reyes C.; Leitón-Espinoza Z.E.; Gómez-Luján M.P.; Reyes-Audiffred V. · Salud Uninorte (2025) · DOI: 10.14482/sun.41.03.400.224

Resumen

Objectives: To analyze nursing care from the perspective of older adults with diabetes mellitus who have undergone amputation. The theoretical framework is grounded in Watson’s theory of transpersonal caring, Le Breton’s concept of corporeality in its completeness, and Kübler-Ross theory of grief and loss. Materials and methods: A qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study was conducted. The sample consisted of 13 older Mexican adults with diabetes mellitus who had undergone lower limb amputation, selected using theoretical saturation criteria. Data were collected through in-depth interviews conducted in the surgical ward of a public hospital. For the analysis of qualitative data, Souza’s thre e-phase approach was followed: pre-analysis, exploration of material, treatment of results, and interpretation, considering the study’s theoretical foundations. Data organization involved the identification of recording units, coding, classification, and categorization. Content analysis was used. Results: The main empirical category that emerged from the analysis of discourses was “Caring for Completeness in the Incompleteness of the Older Adult”. Two subcategories were identified: 1) Helping to make the loss of the phantom limb real; 2) Nursing: Promoting the search for meaning in life during the grieving process. Conclusions: Individuals with lower limb amputation experience the incompleteness of their corporeality, with profound repercussions on their quality of life. In this context, nurses provide healing care from a perspective of completeness that enables these individuals to transcend pain and suffering and (re)construct the meaning of their existence with their new bodily condition.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo