Caring on the ragged edge: nursing persons who are disenfranchised

The narratives of seven nurses who work with clients estranged from mainstream society are interpreted using a phenomenological strategy to reveal the metaphors of going around the wall of fear separating clients and community. Nurses explain four dimensions of meaning experienced through their fearless caring. Ten themes characterize Caring on the Edge; they are organized as three meta-themes: the Human Connection, the Community Connection, and Making Self-Care Possible.