THE MEANING AND IMPACT OF EMPATHIC RELATIONSHIPS IN HOSPICE NURSING

This naturalistic field study was designed to explore the patient's pe rspective of the nature, meaning, and impact of empathic relationships with hospice nurses. The findings are part of a larger study, focused on the meaning and impact of empathic relationships that develop betw een hospice nurses and their patients. Data were generated through in- depth interviews with 14 terminally ill adults receiving home-based ho spice care. According to the hospice patient, an empathic relationship developed through a process of reciprocal sharing and revealing of pe rsonhood within a context of caring and acceptance. The experience of an empathic relationship meant being acknowledged as an individual, a person of value. The outcome of the empathic relationships between hos pice nurses and their patients was the improvement and maintenance of patients' physical and emotional well-being. Understanding the patient 's perspective is critical for effective nursing interventions and mea ningful outcomes. Future research needs to explore empathic relationsh ips between the nurse and family caregivers in various settings.