This thesis is part of the INNOVATEDIGNITY Project (Action H2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie/Innovative Education Networks), funded by the European Commission (2019–2023). The project addresses the need for dignified care for older people in response to Europe’s ageing population. As the number of older adults increases, healthcare systems must adapt to ensure dignified care. Registered nurses and nursing students play crucial roles in caring for older persons, yet their lived experiences and the interplay of factors such as gender and cultural aspects of care have been underexplored. This thesis explores the meaning of caring for older persons through the lived experiences of nurses and nursing students in Greece and Sweden. 

Study I involves a systematic review of empirical data from 1993 to 2022, analysing the impact of gender on the nurse-patient relationship through a thematic synthesis of available studies. Study II uses phenomenology according to Reflective Lifeworld Research (RLR) principles to explore nursing students’ lived experiences of caring for older persons in Greece, based on lifeworld interviews with 12 students. Study III focuses on registered nurses in Greece, employing phenomenologically inspired qualitative thematic analysis of 10 lifeworld interviews to uncover the meaning of caring for older persons considering the influence of cultural and societal norms on caring. Study IV employs a phenomenological approach according to RLR through conducting lifeworld interviews with 19 registered nurses (10 in Greece and 9 in Sweden) to describe the essential meaning of caring for older persons based on their lived experiences. 

Study I identifies three key themes related to gender influences in the caring relationship between nurses and older persons uncovering the concept of vulnerability of the body, as well as normative understandings surrounding gender and sexuality, while considering the balance between closeness and distance in the nurse-patient relationship. Building on Study I and the identification of gender’s influence on caregiving dynamics, Study II delves into how nursing students perceive these dynamics in practice, particularly in balancing personal and professional roles. Study III expands on these findings, revealing how societal expectations in Greece shape the caregiving experience. Study IV reveals that the essential meaning of caring for older persons involves an embodied presence in space that allows for a movement in time. Nurses’ experiences highlight the need for flexibility and adapting multifaceted roles within institutional frameworks while emphasising the importance of understanding the existential dimension of care. 

These studies uncover both universal and culturally specific aspects of caregiving, providing critical insights that can shape nursing education and policy. By emphasising the need for gender and context sensitivity, this research has the potential to improve caregiving practices and outcomes for older people. This research highlights the importance of researching lived experiences deriving from different healthcare systems and cultures. By understanding the evolving dynamics, healthcare systems can better support nurses in delivering dignified, holistic care to older persons. The findings can guide improvements in care quality and dignified approaches for those involved in care, as well as supportive environments for nurses across varying healthcare systems.