Hope makes a difference

Abstract

Hope. It is a word that is often used but one which we do not stop to think intentionally about. It may be difficult to define, and frequently many come to know it more by its absence. Nurses espouse the value of hope, but it is a concept that often seems elusive when one is trying to put it into practice. The author suggests that hope is at the heart of psychiatric nursing practice and provides insights and reflections about how it has made a difference in the lives of individuals. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.