title: Moving between rooms--moving between life and death: nurses' experiences of caring for terminally ill patients in hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the meanings of generalist registered nurses' experiences of caring for palliative care patients on general wards in hospitals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Earlier research shows that work with patients in palliative care is demanding. More research concerning palliative care is undertaken in oncological care, in hospice and in home-care settings than in general wards. It is therefore important to examine the palliative care in the context of acute-care settings to discover more about this phenomenon, to understand the experiences of nurses in this situation and to develop patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative, descriptive and interpretive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight registered nurses in two different hospitals in Sweden were interviewed. The patients on these wards suffered from surgical and medical conditions, i.e. both curative and palliative care were administered. The interviews were analysed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach inspired by Ricoeur's philosophy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The registered nurses' experiences are presented as seven themes and a comprehensive, interpreted whole. This latter revealed the significance of contrasts, contradictions and movement between the material and psychological experiences of the room and nursing care in this care context.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The registered nurses say that something momentous occurred during the care process and they showed a strong determination and commitment to being part of the ending of the patient's life circle, despite the situation often being one of stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings highlight the need for various forms of support for the nurses to meet their need for new and updated knowledge and support in existential matters. This may promote a better quality of care and confirm the nurses in their caring practice. Moreover, there is a need to introduce the hospice philosophy into acute-care settings in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Science, Borås University College, Borås, Sweden. kristina.ev.johansson@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindahl
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden; D019452:Terminally Ill