Critically ill patients' perspectives of hope

Abstract

This study examines critical care patients' perspectives of hope. It focuses on the patients' expression of their experience of hope while being critically ill on a coronary care unit. Using a phenomenological methodology, the data were coded and underwent a thematic analysis. The resulting theory of the critical care patients' perspectives of hope comprised four key themes: hope relative to help; hope interwoven with caring; the presence of hope as synonymous with a personal future; and hope as coping resource. The researcher believes that hope is of great therapeutic benefit for these critically ill individuals, and that the nurse's role is pivotal in inspiring this hope. Furthermore, due to the often subtle, unobtrusive nature of hope inspiration, these interventions may enhance the more visible, tangible nursing interventions.