Therapeutic Nurse - Patient Relationship

Therapeutic Nurse – Patient Relationship

Repeated human contacts are essential to develop trust, love, tenderness concern and acceptable nature. The nurse has to act as a parental role, and accept the client’s thoughts, feelings, interest and problems. The nurse– client relationship is the foundation upon which psychiatric nursing is established.

Definition for Relationship

“Relationship is a state of being related or interrelated” -Webster new collegiate dictionary

Social Relationship

To satisfying needs of each other. - Example: work colleagues, friends, functions and parties

Intimate Relationship

Two individuals committed to one another. - Example: partner type and to reduce loneliness

Therapeutic Relationship

Nurse – client or therapist – differs from both social and intimate - client work together towards the goal.

Components of Therapeutic Nurse – Patient Relationship

·  Rapport

·  Trust, Respect and Genuineness

·  Empathy, Sincerity and Concern

·  Immediacy

·  Communication skills

·  Warmth

·  Active listener

·  Self-discipline

Pre – interaction phase:

Nurse is assigned to take care of client. Plan for first meeting with patient.

Introductory/ orientation phase: During this phase the nurse and patient meet for first time. Establish rapport, trust and acceptance. Gather data including patient`s feeling, strengths and weakness.

Working phase: Most of work is carried out during this phase.

Termination phase: Patient has achieved the treatment goals

Therapeutic Impasses

For variety of reasons therapeutic relationship is hindered. Therapeutic impasses are blocks in the progress of nurse – patient relationship.

Resistance: Resistance is the patient’s avoidance of verbalizing

Transference: It is an unconscious response in which the patient experiences feelings towards nurse. The nurse viewed as a person from past life, loved object and expecting privileges.

Counter Transference: It is created by the nurse’s specific emotional response to the qualities of the patient and providing privileges.

Boundary Violation: The nurse goes beyond the boundaries and establishes a social, personal, and economic relationship.

Intervention to overcome Therapeutic Impasses

·  Nurse must have the knowledge of the impasses

·  Nurse must reflect on feelings

·  Nurse must examine their strength and weaknesses

·  Maintain open communication