The relationship between a nurse and a client begins from the very first meeting. Therapeutic relationships between nurses and clients are shaped from this very first meeting and are essential to nursing care as they contribute to client satisfaction and optimise clinical outcomes. A nurse can encourage therapeutic nurse-client relationships with clients through communication techniques and skills during the initial interview process. This essay will define therapeutic nurse-client relationships, explain the significance of these relationships to client satisfaction and outcomes and discuss interpersonal communication skills that can be used during the initial interview to help build a therapeutic relationship between nurse and client.
A therapeutic nurse-client relationship is a client focused relationship between a nurse and a client that is developed through the use of interpersonal communication skills and techniques. This form of relationship is considered by educators and health professionals to be the ideal nurse-client relationship (Morse 1991: 458) and is defined as a relationship where both parties are mutually focused on improving the health and wellbeing of the client (Crisp & Taylor 2009: 262; DeLaune & Ladner 2002: 179). DeLaune and Ladner (2002: 179) state that ‘the primary goal of the relationship is the client’s achievement of therapeutic outcomes’. They go on to explain that often the therapeutic relationship is a relationship where the client is vulnerable and confidential information is provided to the care taker. The care provided to the client is planned, goal orientated, focused on the client’s needs, based on theory and has clear boundaries set by the nurse (DeLaune & Ladner 2002: 179). Communicat...
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Therapeutic communication can help promote a relationship between the nurse and the client, by focusing on the client’s needs. The nurse can do this by using various types of communication skills, such as giving recognition, giving information, and offering self. Giving recognition is acknowledging the client’s needs in a non-judgmental way.An example of giving recognition in Bed Number Ten is “After you’re a little better, we’ll be taking you to the physical therapy department for regular work to rebuild your strength” (54). Sue enjoyed the conversation with Charles because he was the first to spoke to her about getting better. Giving information is providing specific factual information the client may or may not request. “All the way through,
Wondrak, R. (2004) Interpersonal Skills for Nurses and Health Care Professionals. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd
Hildegard Peplau-interpersonal relations model is also a theory that is based on psychodynamic nursing that issuing an understanding of one’s own behavior to help others identify their needs or difficulties. This applies principles of human relations. It is believed that patient have a felt needs and nurses are involved in problem solving and also creates a significant therapeutic interpersonal process that functions cooperatively with others to make health
Nursing is a profession with different categories of nurses who provide nursing care. Nursing is also explained as interpersonal in nature, which means that it exists through interaction between human beings (Me llish & Paton, 1994:4). This definition means that nursing can only exist through interaction. The nurse interacts with his/her patients – for example when taking a nursing history from patients – and with other health team members as they give report to each other when they change shifts. The nurse should possess knowledge and skills to ensure attainment
Connell, Elizabeth O` (2008). Therapeutic relationship in critical care nursing: a reflection on practice. Online: http://www.researchgate.net/publication_therapeutic relationship_in_critical care.
Therapeutic relationship is an essential part of nursing; it is the foundation of nursing (CNO, 2009). The National Competency Standard for Registered Nurses state that nurses are responsible for “establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationship with individuals/groups.” Throughout this essay the importance of forming a therapeutic relationships will be explained. The process of building a therapeutic relationship begins from prior to time of contact with a patient, the interpersonal skills of the nurse; then the process includes skills required by the nurse to communicate effectively, including respect, trust, non-judgment and empathy. The way to portray these skills can be via verbal or non-verbal cues that are important to understand how they influence a person. The process and skills listed below are all relevant to nurses working in the contemporary hospital environment today.
Thorne, S. (2010). Theoretical Foundation of Nursing Practice. In P.A, Potter, A.G. Perry, J.C, Ross-Kerr, & M.J. Wood (Eds.). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (Revised 4th ed.). (pp.63-73). Toronto, ON: Elsevier.
Upon the first point of contact between a nurse and patient, the way a nurse communicates through words, gestures or facial expressions can affect the patient's perception of the nurse. Communicating professionally helps to portray the nurse in a good light. This is important as having a positive perception of the nurse's image and behaviour is crucial to building patient trust — one of the key elements of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship (Bell & Duffy, 2009; Wadell & Skarsater, 2007). The need for the establishment of therapeutic relationship is supported by th...
Berg, L., & Danielson, E. (2007). Patients’ and nurses’ experiences of the caring relationship in hospital: an aware striving for trust. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 501-506.
Every person’s needs must be recognized, respected, and filled if he or she must attain wholeness. The environment must attuned to that wholeness for healing to occur. Healing must be total or holistic if health must be restored or maintained. And a nurse-patient relationship is the very foundation of nursing (Conway et al 2011; Johnson, 2011). The Theory recognizes a person’s needs above all. It sets up the conducive environment to healing. It addresses and works on the restoration and maintenance of total health rather than only specific parts or aspect of the patient’s body or personality. And these are possible only through a positive healing relationship between the patient and the nurse (Conway et al, Johnson).
Relational Practice is being mindful of your own actions, environment, and situations. It goes beyond treating the disease and focuses on the patient as an individual with his or her own unique needs. In order to establish and maintain a concrete nurse-client relationship, nurses must utilize a wide range of effective communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to communicate effectively is an important skill that not only proves to be imperative as a nurse but also in everyday interactions. That said, for the purpose of this paper, I will evaluate an interaction I had with a close family friend, where he disclosed his history of alcohol abuse and how it affects him every day. I will discuss the style and skills that I fulfilled during
This literature critique reviews Catherine McCabe’s article, Nurse-patient communication: an exploration of patients’ experiences (McCabe, 2002). She has obtained many degrees related to health care (Registered General Nurse, Bachelor of Nursing Science, Registered Nurse Teacher, and Master Level Nursing) has many years of experience and is currently teaching at Trinity Center for Health Sciences. As stated in the title, this study will review the patient’s interactions with nurses in relation to their communication. This study used a qualitative approach, as stated within the article, by viewing the life experiences of the participants.
Therapeutic relationship is well-defined as the process of interrelating, that concentration on advancing the physical and emotional comfort of a patient. Nurses use therapeutic practices to provide support and evidence to patients. It may be compulsory to use a variation of techniques to achieve nursing goals in collaborating with a patient. By discovering the reluctance of the patient to study, as well as the opinions and beliefs of the client and their family, the nurse work together with the client to discoveraexplanation. The...
Therapeutic communication is an important skill for a nurse to utilize when it comes to relationships between the patient and nurse. In Regina’s case, integration of empathetic and compassionate communication skills in combinat...
Many persons go into the healthcare ground because they want to work with people. For these nurses, it is the nurse-patient relationship that is one of the most significant things. By understanding the nurse-patient relationship, nurses can be better furnished to work with their patients and, eventually, deliver superior care for them. Hildegard Peplau's model of nursing emphases on that nurse-patient relationship and recognizes the diverse roles nurses take on when working with patients.