The Struggle of the Diagnosed Terminally III Person to Maintain Hope

Abstract

Clinical, empirical, and subjective data are used to explore the concept of hope as it is lived by persons who are diagnosed as terminally ill. Interviews with 11 men who were in stage 2 (asymptomatic) HIV disease explicate the form that hope takes and its role in promoting health when a person must cope with a serious diagnosis. Other research and ideas about hope and dying are presented and a critique is presented of both these ideas and current nursing practice.