I found "A Theory-Based Nursing Intervention to Instill Hope in Homeless Veterans" [1] to be inspiring. As a psychiatric clinician at a large VA hospital in the Midwest, I found the topic timely and relevant. Often the hospitalization of the homeless veteran is little more than a reprieve from the stressful life on the street. The authors demonstrated through their research that homeless veterans can overcome hopelessness by taking an active part in treatment.

The homelessness-hopelessness theory and its implications have given me a clearer picture of the dynamics involved in the predicament of homeless veterans. The prospect of breaking the cycle of despair in this underserved population is both encouraging and exciting.

I plan to implement the nursing intervention used in the study to expand and enrich my nursing practice as well as improve the quality of patient care. The "success mapping" piece is an excellent tool for the patient to experience positive and concrete results while actively participating and directing his therapeutic goals. The researchers clearly explained Miller's powerlessness-hopelessness theory and successfully applied the theory to homeless veterans. Particularly significant is the low attrition rate from the group work. This clearly contradicts the popular belief that homeless people are apathetic and uninterested in bettering themselves. Through further research and intervention, we can work to instill hope in these people to develop the necessary skills for a productive and fulfilling life in society.

Bonnie K. Fahey, BSN, RN

Master's Degree Student; St. Xavier University; Chicago, Illinois

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