[Feelings of powerlessness facing pain. A qualitative study of feelings of powerlessness in district nurses caring for cancer patients in pain].

This paper is concerned with a qualitative study about feelings of powerlessness of community nurses involved in caring for cancer patients suffering pain. From semi-structured interviews the following causes of feelings of powerlessness appeared: discommunication with patients and the general practitioner, dilemmas concerning physical care and opiates and a discrepancy between pain management goals and reality. Main strategies for reducing feelings of powerlessness were: sharing feelings with the patient and colleagues, increasing knowledge and skills and standing back from the situation.