title: The meaning and impact of empathic relationships in hospice nursing.
abstract: This naturalistic field study was designed to explore the patient's perspective of the nature, meaning, and impact of empathic relationships with hospice nurses. The findings are part of a larger study, focused on the meaning and impact of empathic relationships that develop between hospice nurses and their patients. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with 14 terminally ill adults receiving home-based hospice care. According to the hospice patient, an empathic relationship developed through a process of reciprocal sharing and revealing of personhood within a context of caring and acceptance. The experience of an empathic relationship meant being acknowledged as an individual, a person of value. The outcome of the empathic relationships between hospice nurses and their patients was the improvement and maintenance of patients' physical and emotional well-being. Understanding the patient's perspective is critical for effective nursing interventions and meaningful outcomes. Future research needs to explore empathic relationships between the nurse and family caregivers in various settings.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Nursing, Portland.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Raudonis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004644:Emotions; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support