The Lived Experience of Nurses Who Cared for Patients with Cancer during the Terminal Phase

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the lived experiences of nurses who cared for patients with cancer and their families during the terminal phase. A semi-structured interview was conducted with twenty-two nurses who cared for patients with cancer at their terminal stage. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed by identifying words, phrases and statements that describe the experiences of the nurses. As a result, the findings of the study discovered the following six thematic categories : Regret for failing to rid of distress peculiar to lung cancer ; Cowardliness for lack of competency in their nursing skills ; Disheartening feeling during the last moments of the patient’s life ; Expressing EOLC process for the family ; Worthiness to be involved during the last moments of the patient’s life ; and Earnest desire to understand the patient’s death. While nurses may have emotional distress and personal conflicts while taking care of patients, particularly those with lung cancer, this study revealed that The nurses’ experiences of caring for patients with lung cancer during the terminal stage is critical to understanding the humanness during the EOLC. As a recommendation from this study, it is important to include the patients’ families in their care. Family participation may lead them to have an easier acceptance of the patients’ death, by focusing on the situation as a natural occurrence, and for the patients to have a good death. Moreover, the experience of the nurses have deepened their views of life and death situations impacting their practice, and enhancing their growth as nurses during EOL.