Narratives of women on hemodialysis: waiting for a kidney transplant

The objective of this study was to understand the meanings of waiting for a kidney transplant for women on hemodialysis. This is a qualitative, interpretive study, conducted with 12 women on hemodialysis in the metropolitan region of Florianópolis. Data were collected through in-depth interviews at the homes of the participants. Ethnograph 6.0 software was used for pre-coding and interpretative analysis was done subsequently, from which two categories emerged. The first, "the shadows of the present moment," showed that the initial difficulties of the disease are present, but women can cope better with the disease and treatment. The second category, "the light of renal transplantation", shows the hope fostered by entry on the waiting list for a transplant.