In this study, we highlight the importance of methodological creativity when researching existential phenomena in caring science. Our intention is to provide epistemological and methodological support that would encourage researchers to be creative when collecting data. One fruitful way to approach creativity involves basing one’s research on the epistemological and methodological ideas of lifeworld research. We will illustrate the usefulness of lifeworld research via examples from empirical caring science research and show how creativity may contribute to a profound understanding of patients’ experiences. Hopefully, this article will help other researchers be creative without losing epistemological foundations and scientific validity.

Ubuntu philosophy emphasizes the value of caring for one another. Caring is an integral part of the nursing profession. The purpose of the study was to explore perceptions of student-nurses on the interconnectedness of Ubuntu and caring in nursing. Focus group interviews were conducted on Zoom and Google meeting platforms with 49 fourth-year student-nurses. Data were analyzed thematically using Tesch’s eight-step coding process. Ubuntu and caring in nursing emphasize caring for others. Ubuntu is interrelated to caring through its shared values. The incorporation of Ubuntu into the nursing curriculum has the potential to improve the quality of care in nursing.

Caring is a foundational concept for professional nursing. Because a hospital may be an unfamiliar environment for patients, feeling safe is vital. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the importance of caring behaviors for making patients feel safe and their relationship with patient characteristics. Data analysis (n = 324) indicated “being listened to” was the most important caring practice, while having your nurses and doctors demonstrate professional knowledge and skill was the most important behavior for feeling safe. In today’s hospital environment, nurses need to provide patient care that patients consider caring and that helps patients feel safe.

In the abstract for “Editorial Reflection on Caring, Truth, Bias, Evidence, and Media Literacy During Current Events,” the editorial focuses on the current state of divided truth in issues facing today’s global citizens, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, historical bias, implicit bias, gender identity, and disparity. Recognizing of the challenges faced in addressing truth, bias, and the influence of media literacy raises questions for caring scholars to contemplate advancing of caring science.

Nurse preceptors assume many responsibilities, including facilitating the learning experience of novice nurses while ensuring safe practices. Understanding the nurse preceptors’ experience will provide a baseline for raising safety awareness among nurses. Methods: A directed content analysis design was used. The initial categories were based on predetermined categories of Roach’s six C’s. Results: Analysis of the data led to the following six categories: recognizing the uniqueness of others, Building Competence for Patient Safety, establishing relationships, preceptor intentionality, promoting collaboration, and being a role model. Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrate the preceptors’ ability to balance their roles in delivering safe care while precepting new staff. They efficiently used their experience and caring attributes to facilitate the learning process.

Nurses care for women experiencing fetal loss as a result of elective or therapeutic termination of pregnancy or unexpected delivery of a nonviable infant. It is an emotional experience for the family and nurses. Investigators aimed to illuminate the experience of nurses caring for women experiencing a fetal loss and/or termination of pregnancy on a gynecological medical/surgical unit. The study used a qualitative, descriptive design approved by the Institutional Review Board. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine registered nurses, and transcripts were analyzed using constant comparison methods resulting in codes and themes by three investigators. The experience of nurses caring for women and infants during fetal loss and termination of pregnancy occurs throughout a continuum before, during, and after work. The experience is one of the layers, starting with emotions, sadness, and remorse in the center, followed by layers of attitude (respect and comfort) and action (communication). The foundation for these layers is teamwork, faith, and coping, surrounded by a box of uncomfortableness and distress. Nurses care for both the woman and infant during the termination of pregnancy and fetal loss, treating each with respect and comfort by communicating in both words and physical presence. Support between nurses with similar experiences provides a strong foundation that buffers the uncomfortable and distressing experience.

Phlebotomy collection is one of the most frequently experienced phenomena for patients in the hospital setting universally. Patients transferred from smaller hospitals to tertiary care hospitals are likely to experience repeat laboratory testing at the receiving facility. Unnecessary laboratory blood work can lead to several adverse events. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover and understand the lived experience of transferred patients who received repeat laboratory testing. Five essential themes were found through the process of selective thematic analysis. The Conceptual Model of Transferred Patients was designed and offered valuable insight from the patient’s perspective.

The study aimed to describe nursing students’ perception after an experiential learning activity of wearing an ostomy device. A qualitative research design to determine themes was used. Students enrolled in a nursing skills course, wore an ostomy appliance for a four-hour lab. After completion of the lab, students submitted a written reflection assignment describing their perception of wearing an ostomy appliance. Results from the thematic analysis revealed three distinct recurring themes: student affective response, student perceptions of the patient experience, and student perceived outcomes. Student comments indicated the affective domain and empathy for the patient was reached.

Neonatal therapists are a key team member, especially, when in concert with the medical teams, especially nurses. This column speaks of the challenges the author faced as a parent in the NICU then delves into an interview with Heather Batman, a feeding occupational and neonatal therapist who provides personal and professional insight into how those NICU days and the team members ultimately benefit that infant’s long-term outcome.

Introduction: Our aim was to investigate biomarkers of neonatal pain and their association with two pain scales. Methods: This prospective study included 54 full-term neonates. Levels of substance P (SubP), neurokinin A (NKA), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and cortisol were recorded and two pain scales (Premature Infant Pain Profile [PIPP] and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale [NIPS]) were used. Results: A statistically significant decrease in the levels of NPY (p = 0.02) and NKA (p = 0.03) was detected. A significant increase in NIPS scale (p < 0.001) and PIPP scale (p < 0.001) postpainful intervention was also detected. There was a positive correlation between cortisol and SubP (p = 0.01), NKA and NPY (p < 0.001) and between NIPS and PIPP (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found for NPY with SubP (p = 0.004), cortisol (p = 0.02), NIPS (p = 0.001) and PIPP (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Novel biomarkers and pain scales may help in designing an objective tool for the quantification of neonatal pain in the everyday practice.