Hope in Relation to Nursing Interventions for HIV-Infected Patients and Their Significant Others

This qualitative descriptive study explored what nurses can do to decrease hopelessness and enable hope in HIV-infected patients and their significant others. Using a sample of 10 HIV-infected patient and/or significant other dyads recruited from a support group, interview questions focused on specific nursing interventions that were helpful/not helpful in supporting hope. Clusters of common themes were identified in the areas of the nurse's existential presence, appreciation of personhood, professionalism, celebration of life, and consequences. Elements describing the essence of each category were presented to explain meaning in terms of nursing practice and education. The conclusions of this study reinforce the fact that patients consider enabling hope an essential component of nursing. Further study is needed to explore the effects of hope on long-term survivorship and quality of life for patients and their significant others as well as specific nursing interventions to enable hope for this population.

Key words: AIDS, HIV, hope, hopelessness, interpersonal nursing, family-centered nursing