Dimensions of the supportive role of the nurse in palliative care

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical component of the nurse's role in supportive or palliative care. Data were derived from in-depth retrospective descriptions of the care given by a supportive care nurse to 10 patients and their families. Constant comparative analysis revealed that the nurse's role was a supportive one with multiple dimensions. A model of the supportive role in palliative care was developed, comprised of six interwoven but discrete dimensions: Valuing, Connecting, Empowering, Doing For, Finding Meaning, and Preserving Own Integrity. Valuing and Preserving Own Integrity were key concepts related to the nurse as person and were central to the other dimensions. The findings imply that the nurse as a professional cannot be separated from the nurse as a person.