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Existentialism in Nursing: A Narrative Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Zobide Rafat 1
Abbas Heydari 2
1 PhD Candidate in Nursing, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/nnj.2026.93909.1535
Abstract
Background and Aims: Philosophy, through its exploration of the nature of existence, values, and meaning, plays a fundamental role in shaping ethical and caregiving approaches. In nursing, existentialism, with its emphasis on freedom, responsibility, and meaning in life, empowers nurses to provide person-centered care that is responsive to patients’ existential needs. This study aimed to review the applications of existentialism in clinical practice, nursing research, and nursing education.
Materials and Methods: This narrative, non-systematic review was conducted through a search of English-language literature in major databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and the Google Scholar search engine. After applying the inclusion criteria, 25 articles and books were selected for analysis.
Results: In clinical practice, concepts such as “being-with,” authentic presence, and compassionate care transform nurse–patient interactions into meaningful and empathetic experiences. In research, phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches enable an in-depth analysis of patients’ lived experiences and support the development of operational tools such as the “Hermes” model. In education, the existentialist framework focuses on existential growth, the formation of professional identity, and the enhancement of students’ humanistic competencies.
Conclusion: Existentialism provides a comprehensive framework for strengthening professional identity, ethical depth, and person-centered care. Through the development of practical educational programs, accessible interpretive resources, and hands-on workshops, philosophical principles can be translated into everyday professional practice. Future research should focus on existential interventions and the evaluation of clinical performance.
Keywords
Existentialism
Nursing
Human-centered care
Lived experience
Nursing education
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Navid No
Volume 29, Issue 98
Summer 2026
Pages 62-74