title: Tactile Massage as Part of the Caring Act: A Qualitative Study in Short-Term Emergency Wards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to illuminate the nursing staff's lived experiences and meaning in giving tactile massage (TM) while caring for patients in short-term emergency ward.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through individual qualitative interviews with six nurses and eight assistant nurses working with TM in short-term emergency wards in two hospitals in Sweden. The narratives were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses experienced providing TM to patients as a present awareness in connection with compassion for the patient. TM provided the nurses with a tool to ease patient suffering and pain. Three dimensions were found where touch became a tool of doing, was an aware presence as a mindful being, and was embodied in a human-to-human connection with a changed caregiver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the current high-tech health care system with overcrowded units and a shortage of nursing staff, TM could be included as a caring tool to improve the caring in caregiving, allowing nurses to act in aware presence by touch to encourage health and well-being for both the patient and themselves.
authors: Karolinska Institutet, SwedenKarolinska University Hospital, Sweden fanny.airosa@ki.se.
authors: Fanny
authors: F
authors: Airosa
authors: Karolinska Institutet, SwedenThe Integrative Care Science Center, Sweden.
authors: Torkel
authors: T
authors: Falkenberg
authors: Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Öhlén
authors: Karolinska Institutet, SwedenThe Integrative Care Science Center, Sweden.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Arman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004645:Empathy; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008405:Massage / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D000070659:Patient Comfort / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013548:Sweden; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000523:psychology
keywords: caring; emergency nursing; massage therapy; presence