A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Exploration of the Early Phase of Healing From Liver Transplant Surgery Guided by Newman's Theory of Health as Expanded Consciousness.
ANS. Advances in nursing science January 30, 2026 Lisa Carter, Elena Mottola, Liat Chernoff et al.
In the first weeks after a liver transplant, patients face a complex healing process shaped by past trauma, financial strain, and mismatched expectations. Interviews with nine recipients (eight men, one woman, ages 31–70) revealed six themes: waiting to die while preparing to live, a desire to help others to support themselves, misaligned expectations that complicate healing, the importance of nonjudgmental care, financial and employment difficulties, and adverse childhood experiences as barriers. The central finding is that addressing past traumas is essential for whole-person healing. The findings highlight educational, psychosocial, financial, and interpersonal challenges that should be addressed to improve recovery.