Hope at the Community Level According to Rural-Based Public Health Nurses

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive study was to generate the meaning of hope for 10 public health nurses in their rural-based practice. Ultimately, the study sought to answer if hope is a significant concept for communities rather than just individuals or aggregates. Analysis included coding of the transcripts and use of an auditor. Hope is identifiable at the community level and serves in part to confirm the residents' collective status. In order to have hope, certain conditions such as the presence of hopeful people and resources (i.e., education) need to be present. Communities that are hopeful have specific characteristics such as a diverse economy and agreed upon community goals as well as the presence of community leaders. There are also indicators of community hope such as a sense of optimism and flexibility. Hope is an important element of the practice of the public health nurses included in this study.