Perceptions and lived experiences of nurses on end-of-life care for terminally ill geriatric patients: a phenomenological study in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Global population ageing has increased the number of older adults living with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, thereby increasing the need for quality end-of-life (EoL) care services. Nurses play a critical role in providing physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to terminally ill patients and their families. However, in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria, end-of-life care services remain poorly developed due to inadequate training, limited resources, and sociocultural challenges. Despite existing studies, there is limited phenomenological evidence exploring nurses’ lived experiences and perceptions of end-of-life care in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Therefore, this study explored nurses’ perceptions and lived experiences while caring for terminally ill geriatric patients at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. A descriptive phenomenological approach guided by Colaizzi’s method was adopted. Seventeen registered nurses with at least one year of end-of-life care experience were purposively selected from medical, surgical, intensive care, oncology, trauma, and palliative care units at the hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and field notes. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically using Colaizzi’s phenomenological framework. Rigour was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, reflexivity, and detailed documentation of the research process. The study was conducted over a period of three weeks between May and June 2025. Four major themes emerged: (1) perception and understanding of end-of-life care, (2) recognition and clinical identification of the dying phase, (3) religious and cultural influences on care delivery, and (4) emotional and psychological experiences of nurses. Participants perceived EoL care as a compassionate and holistic responsibility focused on preserving dignity and comfort. Nurses relied on both clinical indicators and experiential judgement in recognizing the dying phase. Religious beliefs served as emotional support for many participants, while cultural taboos surrounding death complicated communication with patients and families. Participants also described emotional exhaustion, grief, helplessness, and moral distress associated with repeated exposure to death. Nurses providing end-of-life care to terminally ill geriatric patients experience significant emotional, cultural, and professional challenges despite demonstrating strong commitment to compassionate care. Culturally sensitive communication strategies are recommended to help nurses navigate the taboos surrounding death and dying encountered in practice while greater attention to nurses’ emotional experiences and coping resources, such as religious belief, may support their wellbeing during end-of-life care delivery in resource-limited settings.