A Snapshot of 43 Years of Publications on Hope in Nursing: A Bibliometric Study

Background and Purpose: The study aimed to examine key features of publications on hope in nursing. Method: A bibliometric analysis of 3,814 nursing-related publications from Web of Science (August 2023) was conducted using the R Bibliometrix Package. Including numerical data, word clouds, trend topics, and thematic maps was applied for the analysis. Results: The average age of articles published in 1980-2023 was 9.71 years, with an annual increase of 10.82%. Hope in nursing was primarily explored in oncology, focusing on the quality of life and palliative care through qualitative studies. The longest-studied topic was "stress." "Quality of life" is the motor theme in the field, while "palliative care" and "spirituality" are the themes that continue to evolve in this field. On the centrality line, a significant part of the "recovery" theme was niche, and a significant part of the "COVID-19" theme was emerging or declining. Implications for Practice: This bibliometric analysis reviews 43 years of research on hope in nursing. It has been observed that hope is examined in the context of illness, particularly in populations with a high risk of mortality. Investigating hope from the perspective of positive psychology in terms of protecting health and enhancing well-being would offer contributions. It has been understood that specific assessment tools are needed. Nurses must be prepared to maintain hope and work with patients who feel hopeless. As this bibliometric analysis highlights gaps in research, practice, and education, it can serve as a guide for future strategies.