Caring Against the Tides: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Realities of Nurses in Coastal Community Settings

Vollständiger Abstract

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Introduction: Coastal communities in the Philippines represent a critical yet persistently underserved area of public health, where geographic remoteness, environmental risks, and systemic resource limitations collectively hinder the effective delivery of essential healthcare services. While nurses play a central role in healthcare delivery in these communities, their lived experiences and the implications of these experiences for perceived care quality remain insufficiently explored. Objective: This study aimed to explore the lived realities of nurses in coastal community settings and how these realities shaped their perceptions and delivery of care. Methods: The study employed a qualitative phenomenological design and purposive sampling to recruit 10 registered nurses from a Level 1 hospital and selected rural health units in Bulacan, Philippines. Data were gathered through semi-structured face-to-face, telephone, and online interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) Steered by Humanistic-Altruistic Values: Foundations of Nursing Practice in Coastal Settings; (2) Sailing through Barriers: Challenges in Coastal Health Delivery; and (3) Keeping Heads Above Water: Adaptive Coastal Nursing Strategies. Conclusion: Participants described sustained commitment despite significant barriers to healthcare delivery and reported extending beyond their formal roles to bridge systemic gaps. Although resilience and adaptive practices helped them maintain essential services, policymakers must establish adequate infrastructure and institutional support to ensure safe and sustainable care delivery without compromising nurses’ well-being.