Patients’ experiences of nurses’ heartfelt hospitality as caring: A qualitative approach

Abstract

Aims and Objectives:To answer the question "What is the lived experience of hospitality during a patient's hospital stay for elective surgery?" Background: Hospitality centres on a host offering comfort to others, as in a personal care context. Caring constitutes the essence of what it is to be human, having a profound effect on well-being and recovery from surgery. Caring is one of the most elusive and diversely contested concepts in nursing; however, care provided by nurses seldom transcends as deep human connections and social utility. This study explored the nature, meaning and experience of hospitality as care from the perspective of elective surgery patients. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative criteria were used.Design: A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology.Methods: Data were gathered through semi-structured, face to face interviews with seven patients from both private and public hospitals, and from different cultural backgrounds.Results: Three interpretative notions were as follows: experiences of hospitality as feeling "really" cared for, being at ease and being healed. Hospitality exists in the receiver's lived experience, evoking a special moment which leads to feelings of great comfort and feelings of being truly cared about. When hospitality is received, patients feel a connection; they begin to trust and their healing begins. Conclusion:The offering of often small, yet heartfelt acts of hospitality, indicated that nurses can evoke powerful lived experiences which benefit patients undergoing elective surgery. Relevance to clinical practice: The importance of prioritising emotional and social connections to the hospitality experience needs emphasis at all levels of the clinical structure. Hospitality as caring needs to form a part of all undergraduate and postgraduate nursing curricula, and ongoing professional development. The participant quotes presented in this article could form exemplars for the provision of hospitable nursing care practices, highlighting nurses getting to know and understand their patients, and being interested in their lives. K E Y W O R D S caring, hospital care, nursing education, patients' experiences, phenomenology, qualitative, surgery

Community healthcare workers’ experiences during and after COVID-19 lockdown: a qualitative study from Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Pākehā RN Kelly et al (2020) and Wright St Clair & Seedhouse (2005) have similarly shared narratives of patients experiencing times when caring went beyond just medical treatment and life support to include unanticipated acts that showed deep compassion and empathy, pointing to an existential difference between being cared "for" and being cared deeply "about" as a person.…”

Patients' and Nurses' experiences of caring in nursing: An integrative literature review across clinical practices

“…Three studies described caring in nursing homes (Hedman et al., 2019; Irvine, 2000; Nakrem et al., 2011). One study was conducted in a psychiatric setting (Schröder et al., 2006), while nine studies were carried out in a variety of hospital ward contexts (Andersson et al., 2015; Bove et al., 2019; Bramley & Matiti, 2013; Canzan et al., 2014; Hogan, 2000; Kelly et al., 2020; Piredda et al., 2020; Remmers et al., 2010; Sharp et al., 2016). Four studies took place in high‐dependency departments, including an operating theatre (Blomberg et al., 2015) and intensive care units (ICUs) (Hofhuis et al., 2008; McCallum & McConigley, 2013; Wassenaar et al., 2015).…”

“…Being at the center of the nurse's attention (Hofhuis et al., 2008) and receiving compassionate care through ordinary nursing interventions were described as a blend of competence and compassion (Sharp et al., 2016). Professional, competent nurses were described as laudable, responsible and coordinative (Radwin et al., 2005); committed (Schröder et al., 2006); and endowed with restorative presence (Kelly et al., 2020). Patients described the importance of nurses’ organizational skills and ability to assess the situation (Kobleder et al., 2017).…”

“…and endowed with restorative presence (Kelly et al, 2020). Patients described the importance of nurses' organizational skills and ability to assess the situation (Kobleder et al, 2017).…”

“…M TA B L E 3 (Continued) First author, (H/M/L) M TA B L E 3 (Continued)in a variety of hospital ward contexts(Andersson et al, 2015;Bove et al, 2019;Bramley & Matiti, 2013;Canzan et al, 2014;Hogan, 2000;Kelly et al, 2020;Piredda et al, 2020;Remmers …”