Conclusions
Our findings have identified that the level of connectedness in several
spheres is likely to determine the quality of the lived experience for
cancer survivors regardless of the number of interventions put in place
to help them ‘move on’ from the cancer experience. The human caring
model of nursing care can help nurses understand how cancer survivors
construe ‘quality of life’ so they can provide care that leads to a
better lived experience. If nurses are to intervene in meaningful ways
they must take the time to engage in relationships with the people in
their care to understand the essential meaning of their lived
experiences. To be successful interventions should be developed from
within this framework of care. This approach is more likely to yield
cost effective care than providing interventions per se. Nurses must
therefore advocate for a practice environment that enables them to take
the time to engage in therapeutic relationships based in human caring.