Volume 2 - Issue 1, January - February 2026

Terminal lucidity is a poorly understood yet frequently observed clinical phenomenon in patients with terminal illnesses or advanced cognitive deterioration. It is characterized by an unexpected and temporary recovery of consciousness, communication, and mental clarity in the hours or days preceding death. This study aims to explore how this phenomenon is experienced, documented, and interpreted by nursing personnel in intensive care units (ICUs), as well as to identify its clinical, ethical, and human implications in end-of-life care. Through a review of recent scientific literature and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative research, common patterns were identified in how nursing professionals perceive and address these episodes. The findings reveal that although the phenomenon lacks a fully explained physiological basis, its recognition allows nursing teams to adapt palliative care, facilitate emotional closure, and provide compassionate support to both patients and their families. However, limitations in clinical documentation and the absence of institutional protocols for its management were also identified. Available evidence suggests that terminal lucidity, far from being anecdotal, holds profound clinical and human value. Therefore, strategies are proposed to strengthen nursing education, develop best-practice guidelines, promote applied research, and integrate this phenomenon into humanized care models. Recognizing and appropriately responding to terminal lucidity reinforces the role of nursing as both a scientific and humanistic discipline, contributing to more ethical, dignified, and person-centered care during the final stage of life.

Jannette Melendez,"Terminal Lucidity in Critical Patients: Ethical Implications for Nursing Personnel and End-of-Life Care" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(1): Page(624-630) Jan-Feb 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.