Background <p>End-of-life care in the intensive care unit (ICU) focuses on preventing suffering and respecting the wishes of dying patients, requiring a delicate mix of skills, emotional resilience, and compassion. ICU nurses play a major role in addressing EOLC and often face the challenge of balancing aggressive life-saving efforts with the reality of frequent death and dying.</p> Objectives <p>The main objective of this study was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses who care for patients in the final stages of life in public hospitals, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, in 2024.</p> Methods <p>This study used a descriptive phenomenological qualitative design with 12 purposively selected participants. Data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically, organizing the findings into themes and subthemes.</p> Findings <p>The data analysis led to the extraction of four themes and nine subthemes. The themes identified for the study were comprehensive and supportive care for patients and their families, effective communication and interaction, practical care and professional challenges and coping mechanisms of emotional feelings and stress. The study results emphasize the critical importance of empathetic and compassionate care, coupled with effective communication, in end-of-life care (EOLC).</p> Conclusions <p>This study emphasizes the importance of communication, emotional support, quality of life, ethical considerations, and healthcare provider support in end-of-life care. Despite these challenges, the findings highlight the need for ongoing research and strong support systems to equip nurses with the necessary skills and resources for providing high-quality care in these challenging situations among intensive care unit nurses dealing with end-of-life care.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>