Learning to touch:Nursing Community of Practice of Touch and Massage Model-an ethnographic study

<b>Background: </b>Touch has a crucial role in nursing. Touch techniques are vital resources and improve nurses’ sense-making and workplace wellbeing1. Nursing Communities of Practice (COPs) were implemented to enhance nurses’ awareness of touch and non-pharmacological interventions by adopting Caring Massage® (CM). CM practice promotes wellbeing and improves patient-nurse relationships. The impact of COPs in healthcare organisations is recognised2, but studies on Nursing COPs related to touch are limited. <br/><b>Aims:</b> To observe and understand a Nursing COP centred on CM and specifically analyse nurses’ perceptions and meanings related to the cultural, social, and individual dimensions of care and touch within their profession. Methods: An ethnographic approach3 was used, combining non-participant observations (e.g. COP meetings, massage sessions), open-ended interviews, and document analysis of a COP in a group of Italian hospitals (September 2024- January 2025). Trust hospitals’ ethical committee approved the research, and participants (selected by purposive sampling) provided informed consent. Interviews were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. <br/><b>Results:</b> Nineteen nurses contributed to the study. Four themes emerged: mental and emotional wellbeing, presence in care, relationship and reciprocity, and challenges. CM was perceived as a powerful catalyst for inner balance and emotional awareness, with touch conveying empathic connection and presence. Participation in the COP strengthened connections among members, promoting a sense of belonging. <br/><b>Discussion.</b> FindingsindicatethattheCOPmodelsupportsnurses’wellbeing,enhancestouch-relatedskillsand reconnects with nursing’s core caring principles. Non-participant observations of massage exchange sessions confirmed it builds confidence and deepens reflections on the significance of touch in nursing. <br/><b>Conclusions:</b> The COPs focused on touch present an opportunity and adaptable model to enrich nursing practice. The findings inform training programs and policies aimed at improving nurses’ wellbeing and the quality of care while also suggesting avenues for future research on CM’s impact on nurses and patients.