Caring to the End: An Empirical Application of Swanson’s Caring Theory to the End-of-Life Care

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to explore the applicability of Swanson’s middle-range theory of caring within the context of end-of-life care provided to nursing home residents. A secondary analysis of data collected from five individual interviews and one focus group with a total of nine nurses employed at nursing homes was conducted using qualitative deductive content analysis. The findings highlight the influence of nurses’ caring attitudes and behaviors on providing end-of-life care, which are described as caring processes. Additionally, the study emphasizes the valuable role of Swanson’s theory in guiding end-of-life care practices in nursing homes.