Aesthetics in Nursing Practice for Cancer Patients as Experienced by Nurses in Nepal

Abstract

Background: Aesthetics in nursing practice address creating beautiful, meaningful, desirable, and satisfying experiences for both the nurse and the patient. However, little is known about aesthetics in nursing practice. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of nurses who provide aesthetically pleasant care in nursing practice for cancer patients. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenological approach grounded on Gadamer's philosophy was used in this study. Sixteen Nepalese nurses who met the inclusion criteria were the participants. The data collection consisted of 2 methods of drawing graphic illustrations to reflect aesthetic nursing practices and indepth interviews to explain them. The researchers analyzed and interpreted art-based graphic illustrations and interview transcriptions of 16 Nepalese nurses using van Manen's approach. Results: The 5 thematic categories covering these meanings comprised (1) knowing persons as whole, (2) creating a pleasant healing environment,(3) creative use of palliative care resources, (4) nurturing hope, and (5) rewarding the self. Conclusion: This study provides the understanding of the nurses' thoughts and actions of aesthetics in their nursing practice. The inductive knowledge from the experiences of the nurses informs the nursing discipline and profession to promote aesthetics in nursing. Implications for Practice: These findings can be used to promote aesthetics in nursing practice to improve patients' well-being holistically and increase nurses' satisfaction from caring.

Aesthetic Attitude Based on Kant’s Aesthetics of Caring Relationships in Nursing

“…In recent empirical nursing research, the perception of aesthetic care among nurses was explored, which contributes to illuminating the ways to implement aesthetic attitudes in care [ 21 , 22 ]. However, it still has limitations in epistemologically explaining the meaning of aesthetic attitudes in nursing.…”

Aesthetics in nursing practice as experienced by nurses in Indonesia: A phenomenological study

“…Aesthetics in nursing practice has been examined in several studies (Dahal & Kongsuwan, 2021 ; Radmehr et al, 2015 ). Dahal and Kongsuwan ( 2021 ) described the meanings of aesthetics in nursing practice from the lived experiences of sixteen nurses in a cancer hospital in Nepal.…”

“…Aesthetics in nursing practice has been examined in several studies (Dahal & Kongsuwan, 2021 ; Radmehr et al, 2015 ). Dahal and Kongsuwan ( 2021 ) described the meanings of aesthetics in nursing practice from the lived experiences of sixteen nurses in a cancer hospital in Nepal. This study found that aesthetics in nursing practice for patients with cancer included nurses’ actions of knowing persons as a whole, creating a pleasant healing environment, and creatively best-using resources for palliation.…”