Abstract
The researcher has observed that nurses prefer not to nurse patients with open abdomen as they fear that the abdominal contents will protrude. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses taking care of patients with open abdomen in intensive care in an academic hospital in Gauteng and to describe the recommendations for assisting professional nurses in taking care of patients with open abdomen. The research design used was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Focus group interviews were conducted and each comprised of six participants. The research question which was addressed was: What are the experiences of the professional nurses caring for patients with open abdomen in intensive care unit? What recommendations can be made for assisting professional nurses in taking care of patients with open abdomen in intensive care unit?
Data were analysed using Tesch‟s method. Three themes also emerged: difficulty in nursing care, complications suffered by patients and poor hospital administration. Recommendations for assisting professional nurses in taking care of patients with open abdomen were then described from the findings of four focus group interviews. Ethical principles and measures of trustworthiness were adhered to throughout the research study.