New research highlights importance of trust and support for palliative care nurses

Study involving Galway and Mayo Hospices explores how psychological safety and reflective support impact staff wellbeing and patient care

New collaborative research involving University of Galway, the Health Service Executive and Galway and Mayo Hospices has highlighted the importance of trust, clarity and psychological safety in supporting palliative care nurses working in emotionally demanding healthcare environments.

The study explored palliative care nurses’ experiences and perceptions of clinical supervision and professional support within specialist palliative care settings, examining the barriers and factors that influence engagement with reflective support practices.

The original research, titled Misunderstood: Palliative Care Nurses’ Perceptions and Experiences of Clinical Supervision: A Qualitative Study, was carried out by Dr. Siobhan Smith, Nicola Gill Meeley, Dr. Magdalena Ohaja (University of Galway); Brendan Power (Health Service Executive); and Deirdre Munro (Clinical Facilitator, Galway and Mayo Hospices).

Using qualitative interviews with palliative care nurses, the research identified four key themes influencing staff engagement with professional support: misunderstanding and mistrust surrounding clinical supervision; the importance of psychological safety; organisational barriers, including staffing pressures and lack of protected time; and the restorative and transformative impact of meaningful support.

The findings suggest that clinical supervision is often misunderstood as managerial oversight rather than reflective, emotional and professional support, reducing participation and engagement among staff.

However, nurses who experienced psychologically safe and supportive reflective spaces described them as highly valuable in helping maintain resilience, wellbeing and professional stability within palliative care roles.

One participant described the experience as “a space to breathe,” while another reflected: “It keeps you steady.”

Deirdre Munro, Clinical Facilitator at Galway and Mayo Hospices, said the research highlights the importance of listening to frontline staff experiences and investing in staff wellbeing across specialist palliative care services: “Palliative care professionals support patients and families through some of life’s most difficult moments, and it is essential that they themselves feel supported, valued and psychologically safe within their working environment. This research reinforces the importance of creating spaces where staff can reflect, feel heard, and access meaningful support — ultimately strengthening both staff wellbeing and patient care.”

Researchers also found that organisational culture, clear communication and protected time significantly influence whether staff engage with support services. The study concluded that relatively small changes in framing, awareness and accessibility could greatly improve uptake and impact.

The research forms part of Galway and Mayo Hospices ongoing commitment to collaboration, organisational learning, staff wellbeing and continuous improvement in specialist palliative care.

The findings were recently presented at the 2026 European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) Congress in Prague, one of the leading international conferences in palliative care research and practice.