Abstract: Objective To explore the psychological experience of the maintenance hemodialysis patients during waiting for renal transplantation. Methods Phenomenological methodology was adopted in this study. In-depth interview was conducted to 11 patients between August 2015 and July 2016. Data were analyzed by Colaizzi method. Results Four themes including waiting in torment, survival hope, burden and uncertainty were extracted. Conclusion Patients underwent a complex psychological experience during waiting for renal transplantation. Medical staffs should concern the psychological state of these patients and give them intervention timely.

Key words: end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis, renal transplantation, qualitive study