Objective:

To examine the experience of the nurses in providing care to the critical patient at the end of life.

Methodology:

The study was conducted with a hermeneutical phenomenological approach, in which in-depth interviews were carried out, the construction of the information and the data were analyzed according to the procedures proposed by Ricoeur's.

Results:

18 nurses participated. Three main themes were identified (attitude towards care, the meaning of care at the end of life and knowledge of empirical care).

Conclusion:

Nurses during the end of life care mainly carry out interventions to cover the basic needs of the patient and manifest the need to acquire theoretical knowledge of death and care at the end of life.