mote the exchange of information on the psychosocial aspects of care. The dimension of care I will address is the psychosocial challenge of palliative caring. Caring is the fundamental ideal that permeates and underscores all of nursing practice. Caring for the dying person necessitates a holistic approach that includes: an understanding of the disease process, use of appropriate interventions to alleviate the body's suffering, exploration of the uniqueness of the individual, an appreciation of the psychological and emo-tional needs of the person who is sick, and respect for the person as a member of a family. To address any one of these essential aspects without the others is to corrupt the compassionate commitment to the patient. At times caring is manifested in a disease-centered approach and is focused on curing. This fre-quently allows a person-centered approach and human caring to become secondary and perceived as less important.

Caring does not become the lesser option when cure is impossible. Giving up on the cure need not translate into defeat, and giving in to death need not mean despair. The distinctions between a focus on curing and an acceptance of death are diminished when caring is designated as the primary commitment to patients. This compassionate care fosters for the patient a vision of hope.