Background: To provide patient- and family-centered care, health care providers must understand the caregiver experience. Evidence suggests that registered nurses functioning as family caregivers (RNFCs) may have unique experiences and challenges. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of RNFCs during an adult family member's episode of care in the southern United States. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to describe the essence of the RNFC experience throughout an episode of care.
