It’s a definition that serves as a baseline to examine hope in a new four-week adult psychoeducation group developed and led by nurses at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders. Yet as patients learn in this group, perceptions of hope and the pathways that lead to it are unique and individualized for each person.
Grounded in Research
The group’s evidence-based curriculum was developed following an examination of the literature spearheaded by board-certified psychiatric nurses Lisa Sabo, BSN, RN, PMHN-BC and Anna Lybarger, BSN, RN, PMHN-BC. This review included a Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing study co-authored by Princeton Center for Eating Disorders Director Robbi Alexander, PhD, APN, PMHCNS-BC, which found that while patients with eating disorders have low levels of hope, actions by nurses aimed to enhance interpersonal connection and nurse presence could help facilitate hope.
“Many of our patients come to us with little to no hope, and our goal is to help them find the way,” says Sabo. “We want them to have the capacity to live their best life, and hope is a key part of that equation.”
The curriculum is designed to help patients explore the concept of hope, consider goal-setting as it relates to hope, create something tangible—such as a vision board or storyboard—to illuminate individual pathways to these goals, and examine motivating factors that facilitate progress.
“Roadblocks are common in life, particularly for those struggling with an eating disorder, so we help patients consider alternative or second-tier goals during the planning process,” adds Sabo. “The pathway to hope is not always a straight line.”
An Integrated Approach
Nurses at Princeton Center for Eating Disorders have been trained in the curriculum, which is included in individual care plans. With this approach, hope-related goal planning becomes an integrated part of the daily dialogue with patients.
“The concept of hope goes beyond serving as part of the coping strategies toolkit that our multidisciplinary team provides,” adds Nurse Manager Lauren Firman, MHA, BSN, RN, CNML. “When a person finds hope, it becomes the motivator to have the strength and willpower to use that toolkit. We have exceptionally strong clinical nurses supporting our patients in reaching this goal, and we’re committed to broadening our patients’ ability to lead more productive, happier lives.”
