An Exploratory Study of Nurses' Presence in Daily Care on an Oncology Unit

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES. Explore the use of presence among nurses on an oncology unit. PARTICIPANTS. Five oncology nurses and 10 assigned patients. METHOD. Descriptive qualitative study using participant observation, individual and group interviews. FINDINGS. Presence was embedded in each nurse's individual manner and approach, in the structure and nature of morning care, and in the nature of the individual patient situation. Nurses' presence varied based on patient cues. There was a similarity and pattern to the ways that nurses were present, suggesting an overall process that included three major phases in which the nurse moved from presence, to partial presence, and then full presence. INTERPRETATION/IMPLICATIONS. Morning care is an opportunity for the emergence of different ways of being present with the patient. Developing patient‐nurse trust and responsiveness to patient cues is critical to the emergence of full presence. The nurse needs to be aware of potential stressors, whether personal or organizationally based, that could detract from the energy needed to be present. Nurses can use presence as a way to provide emotional support to patients who are exposed to overwhelming threats to their mind, body, and spiritual integrity.