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.