flanagan j (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 205–214 The life patterns of individuals who had been recently hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseAim. This study used Newman’s (Health as Expanding Consciousness, 2nd edn, 2000) health as expanding consciousness to explore the life patterns of individuals who had an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring hospitalisation.Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronically debilitating disease of the lungs. Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring hospitalisation are highly correlated with increased mortality rates, making this experience critical in the disease trajectory (Groenewegen et al., Chest, 2, 2003, 459) While there have been many studies aimed at understanding the patient experience of late stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is a gap in knowledge consistent with the goals of nursing about the life patterns of patients recently hospitalised for the first time with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods. Newman’s (Health as Expanding Consciousness, 2nd edn, 2000) Health as Expanding Consciousness guided data collection. Fourteen patients who had been admitted for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were individually interviewed at three time points posthospitalisation. Data were collected over an 18‐month period in 2008–2009. For the purpose of this report, two life pattern appraisals are presented and discussed.Findings. Fourteen patients including eight men and six women between the ages of 48–92 participated in the study. Participants readily engaged in the dialogue. The stories focused on what was personally meaningful and for these participants, the dialogue was not focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Isolation was a common experience with uniquely expressed meaning for each participant. The ability to form key relationships early in life may impact choices throughout life and requires further exploration.Conclusion. Through using health as expanding consciousness, a nurse–patient relationship was formed providing a more complete understanding of the unique experiences and needs of the participants. There were many missed opportunities for health care providers in addressing their care.Relevance to clinical practice. The process of dialoguing with patients to reflect on life patterns and choices underscored the importance of holistically knowing them and engaging them in care.