The lived experience of therapeutic intimacy among Filipino palliative care nurses

Therapeutic intimacy is a cornerstone of palliative care nursing, requiring nurses to balance emotional connection and professional boundaries. Filipino palliative care nurses, influenced by their collectivist cultural values, offer unique perspectives on this phenomenon.

A phenomenological design employed using a adopted and validated semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Colaizzi's method.

Among the 12 participating Filipino palliative care nurses, four themes emerged: (1) building therapeutic relationships, emphasising trust and holistic care; (2) navigating emotional and ethical complexities, highlighting challenges in balancing compassion and professionalism; (3) personal and professional growth, showcasing enhanced emotional resilience and fulfillment; and (4) cultural foundations in care, reflecting the role of Filipino values in caregiving. Nurses stressed the importance of trust, holistic care and familial bonds, while also confronting challenges, such as burnout and ethical conflict. The findings underscore the interplay of empathy, cultural values and reflective practice in shaping therapeutic care.

This study demonstrates that therapeutic intimacy-rooted in trust, holistic care and reflective practice-significantly enriches palliative care by improving patient outcomes and bolstering nurse resilience.