Therapeutic Communication Essay

Different ages, genders and the cultures of clients effect how nurses communicate with their clients to obtain and preserve a therapeutic relationship. Therapeutic relationships are relationships between nurses and clients, which are focused on the health of the client and their health needs (Day, Levett-Jones & Kenny 2015, p. 510), where nurses must obtain their personal boundaries (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), 2010). Communication is vital to nurses as required to develop therapeutic relationships. Communication is an interaction that provides a response and information to another. It can either be verbal, written, physical or diagrammatic. For registered nurses, effective communication is the interaction where the required information is obtained, whilst following the NMBA competency standards and professional boundaries (Casey & Wallis 2011, p. 35; Day, Levett-Jones & Kenny 2015a, p. 510). The purpose of this paper is to discuss how a nurse effectively communicates with clients of different developmental stages, using developmental theories to form and maintain a therapeutic relationship (Day, Levett-Jones & Kenny 2015, p. 510).

In order for registered nurses to communicate effectively with their clients multiple skills and attitudes are required in their practices. Expectations of nurses in regards to communication are located in the NMBA competency standards, codes of ethics, codes of conduct and

519). It is the nurse’s responsibility to encourage the development of these relationships, as it promotes quality of care. Therapeutic relationships require the nurse to use therapeutic communication. Therapeutic communication consists of the nurse using communication mechanisms in a manner that demonstrates understanding and is therapeutic for the client (O’Connell 2008, p.