Abstract: Objective: To explore the meaning making process of main caregivers of hospitalized patients with hemorrhagic stroke, and to provide references for further interventions. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 13 caregivers of hospitalized patients with hemorrhagic stroke in a tertiary grade A hospital in Lianyungang city from December 2022 to March 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted according to the interview outline, and the data were analyzed by Braun & Clarke's thematic analysis method. Results: Four main themes and nine sub-themes emerged, including the impact of disease, the upheaval of original meaning, the reshaping of meaning of life, the rediscovery of the meaning of disease, and the positive outcomes of meaning making for individuals. Conclusion: The process of meaning making for caregivers engaging in a complex assessment and coping with the stressors associated with disease care, and ultimately resulting in positive outcomes. This findings can provide reference for clinical nursing staff to formulate interventions, to encourage caregivers to transform the distress into meaningful action, and consequently promoting better patient prognoses.

Key words: hemorrhagic stroke; main caregiver; meaning making; qualitative study