Objective To understand oncology nurses′ knowledge and experience regarding "desire for death" among cancer patients. Methods With phenomenological approach, a total of 15 oncology nurses were enrolled for the semi-structured in-depth interviews and Colaizzi′s 7-step method was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 4 themes which branched into 12 subthemes were extracted: knowledge of cancer patients′ "desire for death" (being able to identify patients requesting hastened death; understanding the true meaning of patient′s "desire for death"; cognitive confusion), coping styles in responding to cancer patients′ "desire for death" (encourage-dominant coping;consolation-dominant coping;placing hope in the professionals;trying hard), barriers to responding to cancer patients′ "desire for death" (external barriers; barriers from nurses themselves); suggestions regarding handling of cancer patients′ "desire for death" (providing targeted training; taking family members as an important part of the response to "desire for death"; promoting multidisciplinary collaboration). Conclusion Oncology nurses have some knowledge on "desire for death" among cancer patients, though they do have some cognitive confusion. Such measures as providing training on hospice care, and rallying efforts from a multidisciplinary team and families of cancer patients, are recommended to cope with cancer patients′ "desire for death".