Abstract
Summary This qualitative study utilized focus group methodology to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a nurse‐directed HIV/AIDS facility based on Jean Watson's theory of human caring (1985a,b, 1988, 1990). The focus group method proved to be a humanistic means of evaluating consumer satisfaction congruent with Watson's theory of human caring. Different concerns of research informants in different stages of the HIV/AIDS disease process were elicited; in addition, many of the informants elected to tell their stories of living with HIV/AIDS. These stories were profoundly moving and informative regarding the realities of living with HIV/AIDS in an under‐prepared social and health‐care system. A consistent theme emerging from the data was the high value the clients placed on the caring behaviour shown by nursing staff. This study was the beginning of an empirical validation of the tenets of Watson's theory of human caring in nursing, and demonstrated the applicability of caring theory in practice.
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