The phenomenon of interest for this study was the registered nurse’s (RN’s) lived experience of caring for patients with dementia in the acute care setting. Watson’s theory of human science and human care and van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach were used to guide this study. The strategies used for the generation and analysis of data were tape-recorded open-ended interviews, field notes, and the researchers’ audio-taped journal. Upon saturation, two themes and a synthesis of unity emerged across all participants. The implications for practice were clearly communicated by the RNs in this study. Further research is recommended.

This is a descriptive, exploratory, phenomenological study on children's lived experiences of perceiving the human energy field using Therapeutic Touch (TT). Eleven children, 3 to 9 years of age, willingly participated in the study. The study's findings suggest that children can feel the human energy field with purpose or intent to help, thus supporting TT as an innate potential.

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The purpose of this research was to explore why experienced RNs chose to exit the active practice of nursing. Ahermeneutic phenomenological design based upon Husserl’s (1965) phenomenology and Watson’s theory of human science and human care (1999) was used to explore the phenomenon of interest. Three essential structures and a synthesis of unity emerged from repeating and enduring patterns: “I loved it…this is what I want to do…,” suffering, and the exodus. The synthesis of unity was oppression. Implications for education and practice are integral; however, educators, administrators, and staff need to work together in creating a culture of caring.

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