Nurse healers: exploring their lived experience as nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Qualitative Research
• Phenomenology

Background:

• The role of nurse healers is integral to holistic patient care.
• Understanding the lived experiences of these nurses is crucial for professional development and practice enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experience of nurse healers within the nursing profession.
• To identify and articulate the core themes characterizing their practice.

Main Methods:

• Hermeneutic phenomenological research methodology was employed.
• Data were collected through in-depth interviews with nurse healers.
• Thematic analysis was used to interpret participants' lived experiences.

Main Results:

• Three overarching themes emerged from the data: responding, evolving, and weaving.
• Responding reflects the nurses' ability to adapt and react to patient needs.
• Evolving signifies personal and professional growth within their healing practice.
• Weaving represents the integration of various aspects of care into a cohesive whole.

Conclusions:

• The findings illuminate the complex and multifaceted nature of nurse healing.
• Recognizing these themes can inform nursing education and practice.
• Further research can build upon these insights to support nurse healers.