“Maintain Professionalism”: Nurses’ Experiences in Caring for Patients with Malignant Fungating Wounds in Taiwan

Context: Malignant fungating wounds (MFWs) occur among 5%–15% of patients with terminal cancers, the uncontrollable symptoms result in serious psychosocial issues, thereby reducing the quality of life. Caring for MFWs impacts caregivers, including healthcare personnel. While existing studies are patient-focused, the impact of care experiences and associated support for nurses has not been examined. Objectives: To explore the experiences in caring for patients with MFWs among nurses in Taiwan. Methods: Qualitative study with a phenomenological approach by thematic analysis was conducted with semi-structured interviews. About 15 nurses who cared for patients with MFWs at local district hospitals in Southern Taiwan. Results: Four themes were identified to describe the phenomenon: (1) Fear of Unpredictability (2) Maintaining Professionalism (3) Feeling Helpless (4) Rationalizing the Negatives. The themes illustrated the distress of managing physical symptoms and highlighted how nurses strived to promote comfort for patients. Nurses felt helpless about the incurable nature of MFWs but found a way to suppress their feelings. Conclusion: The findings suggested the need for addressing the emotional well-being of nurses who take care of patients with MFWs. Future studies should identify effective coping strategies for nurses’ health when caring for this population.