The Meaning of Being Touched Deeply Inside in a Nurse- Patient Encounter-Excellent Nurse Encounter-Excellent Nurse Experiences

Abstract

This article explores the meaning to nurses of being touched deeply inside in a nurse-patient encounter. The manuscript reflects the caring perspectives of Pellegrino, Watson, Gadow, Carper, and Eriksson. Caring is viewed from a lifeworld perspective according to the phenomenological philosophy of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty. Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method was applied and data were collected through open interviews with five excellent nurses. The analysis resulted in a general structure of the phenomenon sbtudied including four key constituents: witnessing patient exposed to suffering and unfairness; sensing closeness, understanding, and involvement in patient/person; experiencing extreme difficulties as a challenge to act accordingly; and growing professionally. The results are consistent with literature about moral sensing, and caring values and attitudes. Being touched deeply inside appeared to be crucial in fostering professional growth and excellence in nursing.