Elderly Patients' Experiences with Nurses Guided by Parse's Theory of Human Becoming

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of being cared for by nurses who are guided by Parse's theory of human becoming from the perspective of hospitalized elderly patients. Open-ended interviews were used to collect data from a sample of 10 patients. The descriptions obtained from the interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Three common themes constituted an exhaustive description of patients' experiences of relating to their nurses: coming together around instrumental tasks, nurses being there for patients, and nurses' pleasing way. These patterns of relating with nurses signify that patients felt both cared for and looked after. The findings suggest that Parse's theory of human becoming may provide one framework to ensure that caring takes place between nurses and their patients. The study has implications for nursing practice and research.