The 'good nursing' experienced by hemodialysis patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning and essence of good nursing from the perspective of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: The data were collected through in-depth interviews of five hemodialysis patients who have been dialyzed for one year or longer. The data analysis was conducted using the Giorgi's phenomenological method. Results: The findings included six constituents and 13 sub-constituents. The six constituents were 'prompt and skillful response to mitigate distress', 'careful attention to provide relief', 'individualized education to promote self-management', 'an intimate relationship to regain isolated ego', 'warmhearted support to encourage strength to live in a exhausting life', and 'providing of comfortable environment to maintain stability'. Conclusion: From the perspective of the hemodialysis patients, the concept of good nursing should stem from the integration of nurses' scientific knowledge, expert skills, and moral sensitivity. The finding suggests that strategies to develop nursing interventions for hemodialysis patients will be required on the basis of understanding of their sociocultural contexts and familism.