Family Care During End-of-Life Vigils.

An end-of-life vigil is the act of being with another toward death. A family vigil at end-of-life occurs when significant others gather by the bedside of dying individuals in the weeks, days, or hours prior to the death event. It is not unusual for nurses to be present, bear witness, and share in this human experience. This article reviews seminal and current research regarding the meaning and structure of the lived experience of vigil keeping for a dying family member, and translates research to inform nurses regarding family care during the transition at end-of-life.