Background: cancer patients require palliative care. Aim: the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses, who provide palliative care for cancer patients, within the context of Iranian culture. Methods: we conducted a hermeneutic phenomenological study. Semi structured in-depth interviews with 10 nurses were audio taped and transcribed. The transcriptions were then analyzed by Van Manens method. Results: one of the most important themes that emerged was human relationships, which also contained the subthemes of comprehensive acceptance and psychological support. Conclusions: the results provide deep understanding of human relationships in palliative care of cancer patients in Iran.
Key words: cancer, Iran, Nurse, Palliative care, Phenomenology.
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