2009 Volume 23 Issue 1 Pages 21-30
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify what changes occur in the experience of illness, when a nurse and a client who has undergone bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and continues to visit hospital for a long time follow his pattern recognition process together. The theoretical framework is Newman’s theory of health. Newman’s hermeneutic, dialectic approach was chosen for praxis research design. The participants were 4 male outpatients in their 30’s. The data consisted of the content of dialogues in the participant–researcher partnership and of the researcher’s journals. The participants showed four transformational phases. These were: “Superficial reflection on one’s own life and expressions of the experiences of illness that one had not been able to confront”, “Groping for one’s true feelings and showing them”, “Recognition that one is in a hard situation at present”, “New awareness and self–revolution”. Their insights suggested an expanding human consciousness and supported Newman’s theory. The findings suggest that this nursing support helps long term male outpatients in early adulthood who are suffering from not being able to achieve their life tasks after BMT.
