Nurses’ experiences of encounters in home care: a phenomenological hermeneutic study

PURPOSE: nurses working in home care often encounter patients with multiple diagnoses in unpredictable environments. This may cause ethical and emotional challenges and influence nurses’ daily work. The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of nurses’ lived experiences of encountering patients in home care. METHODS: narrative interviews were conducted with 11 nurses. These interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. FINDINGS: the findings are presented under three main themes: (1) “Being receptive to the other” (with subthemes “Caring about the encounter,” and “Establishing trusting relationships”). (2) “Handling the unpredictable” (with subthemes “Being alone in the encounter” and “Being experienced and competent”). (3) “Managing frustration” (with subthemes “Feeling insufficient” and “Feeling restricted”. Having overall nursing responsibility challenged the nurses’ self-confidence in providing care trustfully. CONCLUSIONS: encountering patients in home care means relating to the other unconditionally, which aim to highlight patients’ needs. Being a nurse in home care is both emotionally demanding and rewarding. Having the courage to face their own and the patients’ vulnerabilities will entail the promotion of natural receptivity and responsiveness to patients’ needs.