Sustaining Hope: A Narrative Inquiry into Experiences of Hope in Nurses Who Work Alongside People Living with HIV (PLWH)

Background: Nurses who work with PLWH have concerns about their well being and quality of life. They also complain of stress related workload due to high nurse - patient ratio. The study sought to examine the experiences of nurses in Ghana and the ways that hope is intertwined with their experiences in working with PLWH. Aim: In this research we explored how nurses working in HIV care in Ghana live and work with hope. Design: This study was a narrative inquiry study. Narrative inquiry is a collaborative way to inquire into participants’ experiences in the threedimensional spaces of temporarily, sociality, and place. Methods: We engaged with five nurses who work in an acute care setting where their primary focus is to provide care to people living with HIV. We engaged in six to eight conversations with each participant over several months. We asked participants to describe memories of significant experiences in their past and present lives, as well as share experiences that they would describe hopeful in their HIV nursing practice. Results: In this narrative inquiry study, four resonant threads emerged and included: 1) Becoming a nurse for people living with HIV took time; 2) Experiences of practicing with hope were important; 3) Faith in God, allowed them to gain strength, which was connected to hope; and 4) Learning to live with hope was shaped by childhood experiences. Key words: hope, Narrative Inquiry, Ghana, nurses, HIV/AIDS care

Author(s): Gideon L. Puplampu

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