Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe district nurses experiences meeting intimate of cancer patients in home care. The study had a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. The sample consisted of ten district nurses employed in primary health care, working in emergency duty in a district in the Middle of Sweden. The results are presented from the two categories; to communicate and being competent, which was formulated to one theme. The theme “Being safe in one´s professional role, being aware of possibilities and difficulties when encountering intimates in home care”. The district nurses experienced that they had an important role since they had to notice and understand the needs of the intimates as well as to refute and confirm them. To act like ‘a guest’ in the patient's home was important and regarded a respectful behavior towards the family, according to the district nurses. To give intimates ‘time’ was stated urgent and described possible during the nightshifts. According to the district nurses well informed intimates felt more secure in their situation. The district nurses experienced that it is important to observe and understand the intimate’s body language and empathized that both verbal and non verbal communication must be paid attention. They stated that encountering intimates included answering their questions as well as they could. The district nurses felt that it was not always easy to refute the questions asked and they could feel deficiencies in their own capability and competence. Sometimes, encountering intimates, the districts nurses experienced difficulties being professional since they felt lack of ‘tools’.

Keywords: Intimates, cancer, district nurses, nightshift, homecare, encounter