An experience providing terminal care based on Watson's theory to a cancer patient who lived alone

This article presents the case of a terminal stage cancer patient who lived alone and had a detached relationship with his family, and negative behaviors such as: depression, passivity, silence, refusal of treatment, and inability to trust others because of lack of family care during hospitalization. We cared for the patient with direct personal nursing care, using skillful physical evaluation, conversation and close observation from June 11, 2004, to July 11, 2004. Using Watson's theory, we successfully instilled trust in the patient and developed a positive relationship with him. We took care of his needs in a timely manner, used physical care to make him feel comfortable, showed concern about what he was really feeling, provided him with medical information, and helped him to manage his physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual problems. We enabled the patient to face his disease, in the hope that he would experience the end of his life peacefully under our warm and professional nursing care.