to explore the experiences of patients with cancer who were offered a nurse navigator in their course of illness before the in - hospital period .
development has fragmentized healthcare systems in many countries , and coherence is now desired . among interventions suggested to reduce the fragmentation and improve delivery of care are help from patient navigators , where patients are offered extra help in a defined area by e.g. , a nurse [ nurse navigator ( nn ) ] .
a phenomenological - hermeneutical longitudinal study was performed among danish gynecological patients from before an in - hospital period to two months after discharge .
not all could use the help from nn . those who could , attached affectional bonds to nn and experienced benefit from her presence as well as her help .
many had a feeling of deep - felt disappointment and felt rejected when the contact to nn stopped .
resources for nn should be prioritized to patients who can use the help , and not stop prematurely .
the traditional division and thinking by healthcare professionals are challenged , if all patients should be helped .
 purposeto explore the experiences of patients with cancer who were offered a nurse navigator in their course of illness before the in - hospital period.theorydevelopment has fragmentized healthcare systems in many countries , and coherence is now desired . among interventions suggested to reduce the fragmentation and improve delivery of care are help from patient navigators , where patients are offered extra help in a defined area by e.g. , a nurse [ nurse navigator ( nn ) ] . 
 patients experiences are of major interest , but have seldom been thoroughly investigated.methodsa phenomenological - hermeneutical longitudinal study was performed among danish gynecological patients from before an in - hospital period to two months after discharge . 
 nn offered extra information , coordination , logistic services and emotional talk . 
 semi - structured interviews provided data to the primarily open - minded analysis.resultsnot all could use the help from nn . those who could , attached affectional bonds to nn and experienced benefit from her presence as well as her help . 
 many had a feeling of deep - felt disappointment and felt rejected when the contact to nn stopped.conclusionresources for nn should be prioritized to patients who can use the help , and not stop prematurely . 
 the traditional division and thinking by healthcare professionals are challenged , if all patients should be helped . 