To develop a substantive theory that represents hospital nurses' experience on caring for dying patients.

Grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. A purposeful sample of 15 hospital nurses participated during the period of 2001-2002. The data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis was employed to analyze the data.

“Putting oneself into shape while being faithful to feelings and emotions” emerged as the basic social-psychological process. Three different phases were identified: being faithful to own feelings and behaviors; putting oneself into shape; and mourning death. The first phase includes the categories of “establishing trust relationships” and “sympathizing with dying patients and their family members.” The second phase consists of “controlling feelings,” “adjusting ethical conflicts,” and “providing best patient-care,” and “helping family accept the death.” And the third phase consists of “overcoming sadness” and “releasing other negative feelings.”

The result of this study will help health professionals develop efficient support programs that support nurses caring for dying patients in hospitals. Further study needs to be done to verify findings.