Emotional Labour experiences of oncology nurses: The invisible Side of care

Abstract

Background Oncology nurses exert significant emotional effort to manage patients’ physical treatment processes and meet their psychosocial support needs. The emotional labour behaviours exhibited by nurses can directly influence the quality of patient care and professional satisfaction. Objective This study aimed to investigate emotional labour behaviours among nurses working in oncology clinics. Methods This descriptive study employed a qualitative research design. Data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 11 oncology nurses who had at least three years of experience in oncology nursing. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Two researchers independently coded the data line by line, identified initial codes, and grouped them into categories. The coding framework was iteratively refined, and broader themes were developed through discussion and consensus. Results Oncology nurses reported experiencing sadness and fear while providing care and described the need to manage these emotions during interactions with patients. Managing these emotional demands was associated with experiences of burnout. However, participants also indicated that effective emotional management strengthened nurse–patient communication, improved the perceived quality of patient care, contributed to patient satisfaction, and enhanced professional fulfilment. Conclusions Emotional labour constitutes a significant component of oncology nursing and can have both challenging and beneficial consequences for nurses and patient care. Supporting nurses in managing emotional demands may help protect their professional well-being while promoting effective communication and quality care.