OBJECTIVE: To understand the experiences and expectations of a hospital companion of cancer patients about the nursing care received. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study, conducted in an inpatient oncology unit of a medium-sized hospital. Study participants were ten family caregivers, in the months of May and June of 2010. Data were collected by means of structured interviews guided by two questions. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the care of family members who accompanied their sick family who had no possibility of cure, not only had restricted nursing actions, but also involved administrative measures and especially the infrastructure in the hospital environment. CONCLUSION: It appears that in many instances, one needs to carefully analyze each lived experience, as the basic tendency of the nurse is to open up to the standards established and to close off the humanization of care. To reflect upon this foundation possibly will open new horizons to our own authenticity and history as the ones who care.
Nursing care; Oncologic nursing; Palliative care; Oncology; Caregivers; Hospitals