Providing end-of-life nursing care to children with cancer

Abstract Background: There has been little qualitative research in Taiwan on the experiences of nurses who encounter the moment of child's death from their own perspective.Purpose: Using a phenomenological approach, this study worked to understand the essence of the caring experience for nurses at the moment of a cancer child's death from the nurses' own perspectives.Methods: Researchers used Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological method and collected data using purposive sampling and in-depth, tape-recorded interviews.Data were analyzed using the Colaizzi (1978) method.Ten registered nurses from a medical center participated into this study.The trustworthiness of the study was examined using Lincoln and Guba (1985) principles.Results: Five major themes emerged, including introspection on caring for dying children after their death; coping patterns of nurses; toleration and ability to help to ensure the child has a good death; facing death and consoling the soul; and accompanying parents though the moment of death.Conclusion: Study findings provide evidence-based information on nurses to care for cancer children and their families facing the moment of death.