Exploring How Hospice Nurses Practice Self-Care

Hospice nursing, characterized by its focus on comfort care and end-of-life support, presents unique emotional, physical, and ethical challenges that often lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. The constant exposure to death and suffering creates a fertile environment for burnout and can present challenges when hospice nurses attempt to practice self-care. Many hospice nurses are in a constant state of grieving. The overall aims within this dissertation were to 1) analyze the concept of hospice care; 2) examine the state of the science regarding how hospice nurses practice self-care; and 3) explore the lived experiences of hospice nurses. Findings from these three studies establish groundwork for understanding how hospice differs from other nursing specialties, the current available literature regarding hospice nurse self-care practices, and the unique challenges and experiences of hospice nurses.