Nurse – Patient Relationship

What is interpersonal relationship? “ the relationships between persons”

Components of interpersonal relationship

Scientific principles

Specific communication skills and strategies

Creative application of self

(Boggs, 1989)

What is nurse-patient relationship?

What is the purpose of nurse – patient relationship?

Requisites for nurse-patient relationship

Careful thinking

Sensitiveness

Energy

time

Nurses’ roles in nurse-patient relationship

Care giver

Counselor

Educator

Consultant

researcher

Characteristics of good nurse-patient relationship

Relationship is therapeuticExist until patent have fulfilled the health

care needsNurses’ work is to attain, maintain, and

restore the patients’ healthPatients are satisfied Based on nurses’ competent care derived

from skills and knowledge

Characteristics of good nurse-patient relationship Cont….Provide holistic care

Patient/client is an active participant

Nurse uses patients’ knowledge, attitudes, values, and thoughts to plan interventions

Reciprocal relationship influenced by professional and personal characteristics of both parties

Phases of the nurse-patient relationship

Pre-interaction phase

Engagement phase

Active intervention phase

Termination phase (Arnold &

Boggs, 1989)

Pre-interaction phaseDuring this phase

• Nurse assess the environment in which the nurse meet with patient

• Explain the professional goals and set priorities

• Both parties enter to the relationship with expectations

• Patients develop uncertainties and hesitate to comply with care and treatments

• Patient and nurse become oriented to overall needs and expectations from the relationship

Engagement phaseBegin to develop the relationshipNurse create a supportive environmentEstablish a therapeutic contact with patientsNurse introduce herself and the role functionsTrust and empathy are basic qualities hereDevelop strong bond and feel less anxietyNurse plays the key role with expertise on

illness Nurse act as a coordinator

Engagement phase Cont….

Nurse observe and assess patientsDevelop an impression and validate with

patientsPatients come to know their health

issues and feel fear, discomfort, or insecure feelings and expect help

Nurses realize patients through their body languages and help them

Therapeutic relationship is well established

Active intervention phaseThe sense of mutuality is developed

between nurse and patientDiscuss conflicting situations deeplyNurse and patient work with

commitmentNurse sort out problems and solve

themCollaboration and equal participation

is seenAware of the differences of rights,

roles, and responsibilities

Active intervention phase Cont….

Nurse acknowledge the patients’ feelings, show the genuine interest, and honesty

Nurse should be congruentNurse convince the patient of equal right to

make decisionNobody will play dominant or submissive roleNo violation of patients’ rightsPatients become independent decision makers

Termination phaseStart at the time of explaining

plans & goalsPatient should be informed of

this phase at the beginning Otherwise patients develop

strong feeling of separation at this phase

Nurse work on education, health advices preparing discharge plan

Nurse-professional relationship why?

To get advice

To educational support

To work related achievements

To self support

Nurse-professional relationship Co… How?

Collaboratively

Cooperatively

With acceptance and self worth

With appreciation

With respect

Barriers for effective professional relationship

Role stress

Lack of inter professional understanding

Autonomy struggle (Northouse & Northouse,

1992)

Role stressThe stress arises from role

conflict or role confusionRole conflict is a situation that

you happen to play a role different from what you expected to play

Role stress occur when you are expected to do than what you can do

Result in stress and communication is disturbed

How to prevent role stress?

Prevention of role stressExperienced persons are

responsible

Understand individual capabilities

Identify the individual weaknesses

Assign tasks accordingly

Kindly and duly respond against inexperienced behaviors or faults

What are the disadvantages of role conflicts?

Autonomy struggles What is autonomy?

autonomy is one’s ability to be one’s own person directed by own desires, not imposed by others.

When this ability is threatened by others autonomy struggles are arose.

People with higher level of autonomy underestimate others bringing struggles.

Nurse – family relationshipWho is the nurse?

What is the family?

The group of individuals related by blood, marriage or adopting, and sharing the same space, resources with a common human bond while having common goals.

Why do nurses need a relationship with the family?

Thank you