How nurses in Kerala experience caring of terminally ill patients : and how they promote the wellbeing of the patient

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to describe how nurses in Kerala experience the caring of terminally ill patients and how the nurses provide care to promote the wellbeing among these patients. Being terminally ill is threatening for the quality of life and palliative care is important to promote the wellbeing of the patient. The number of immigrants in Sweden is increasing which makes it relevant to study various cultures to acknowledge patients’ different needs and wishes. Six registered nurses in one hospital in Kerala, India, were interviewed. All the nurses had experience of palliative care. The interviews were recorded and analyzed using an inductive approach. Three categories emerged from the analyzed material and they were; loneliness, wellbeing and dealing with work related emotions. It was evident in the result that the nurses found it important to care for the patient’s physical and psychological needs to promote the wellbeing. The result also showed that encountering patients like a fellow human being is essential when treating terminally ill patients, which is especially important to prevent feelings of loneliness. It is important to care for the patient’s emotional and basic needs. To care with a holistic perspective it is essential treat the patient like a fellow human being.