Paradoxical perception of humanistic care in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of nurses, patients and attendants of humanistic care in the intensive care unit. DESIGN: The present study was a qualitative conventional content analysis conducted in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Iran, in 2019. METHODS: Data were collected using semi‐structured interviews and field notes through purposive sampling with 17 nurses who worked in an adult ICU in a teaching hospital, 4 attendants and 4 alert patients, and then analysed using the Elo‐Kyngäs method in 2008. RESULTS: Analysis of the data led to the extraction of Four main themes as follows: (1) Insufficient understanding of nurses and patients' families of each other's roles, needs and expectations; (2) The use of personal and situational reasoning rather than ethical principles; (3) Caring stagnation; and (4) Satisfaction with care.