Table 2 Codes, subthemes and themes

Individualized care; person centred, decision making; assessment of need; goal setting; who sets the goals? patient goal setting; individual disciplines set goals; seeing the person not the patient; risk assessment; hearing the patients voice; knowledge; competence

Professional led care

1. Enhancing patient led care

Patient centred care

Partnership care

Being truly present; building relationships; being emotionally touched; knowing the patient; presence; sharing the journey; spending time; being with; listening; respect; knowledge, competence; listening; holding the silence; seeing the person not the patient

Building intimacy and report

2. Being with

Developing skills & strategies enabling true presence with the patient

Being emotionally touched

Finding meaning in death; self-care; making sense of what's happening; talking to colleagues; having a purpose; professional development; being emotionally touched; competence; knowledge; education; living life; making the most of life; looking after yourself; watching out for colleagues

Exposure to suffering & death can be stressful

3. Exposure to suffering and death

Finding meaning in death allows opportunity for growth

Maintaining personal integrity

More than just basic care; Extraordinary care; listening; responding; Caring; touch, emotionally touched; Presence; being with; self-care; personal integrity; making a difference; touch; kind; caring, empathetic; self-awareness; self-knowledge; reflection; holding the silence

Making a difference – from routine care to something more

4. Nursing values seen but not heard

Emotional intelligence

Behaviours