A dimensional analysis of inner strength in people ageing with serious illness

Nursing models of care show promise in addressing the needs of older adults facing serious illness through supporting inner strength. However, previous conceptual and theoretical models of inner strength are limited. This concept analysis used dimensional analysis methods to explore inner strength in people ageing with serious illness to address limitations by defining a pragmatic, data-driven model. This study analyzed published literature of adults with serious illness that describes inner strength. Thirty articles were selected after review. The result was an explanatory matrix that describes inner strength from the perspective of where have I been, where am I going? within the context of being a person who is living and dies and you have a serious illness. The conditions spotlighting by actors around me and taking stock of others and ideas lead to processes of looking in/looking out and seeing me as I'm seen. The final consequence of this process is meeting me. This updated concept analysis of inner strength improves upon previous models by providing a clinically relevant situation-specific model of inner strength for people with serious illness. Implications for nursing scholarship and practice are described including exploration of person-centered care, relational practice, and health communication.