A therapeutic relationship is an essential component of any successful health care intervention and this holds no more truth than in the relationship between nurse and patient. As registered nurses we are not trained counsellors, however we do have an understanding of basic counselling skills and how they are applied at a ward level and as such it is more important as a registered nurse to establish a proactive therapeutic relationship with a patient than it is to use an appropriate counselling approach. This paper will examine what counselling is, the role of the nurse counsellor, the basic counselling skills used by registered nurses and the differences in counselling approaches. Counselling and psychotherapy are frequently used …show more content…
A good therapeutic relationship is developed between nurse and patient through the appropriate use of basic counselling skills. A qualitative study into Counselling and Mental Health Nursing (Stickley, 2002) describes the role of the nurse counsellor: Although nurses utilize skills in their work, it is worth highlighting the key differences between nursing and counselling practice. The two roles have very different boundaries. The nurse invariable performs many roles in the course of his/her work; clinician, teacher, friend, gaoler. By contrast, the counsellor maintains only one role for their client, that of a listener, one who reflects feelings and meanings, and possibly offers interpretations. The counsellor’s contract with a client is usually limited to 1 hour per week in a counselling room. Nurses, however, fulfil many and varied activities with their clients. What is common to both professions is the necessity for the development of the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and client. There is widespread understanding that although nurses may counsel their clients, they are not counsellors inasmuch as they have not undergone professional counselling training. However, one-to-one work utilizing counselling skills is intrinsic to nursing. Stickley (2005) has not only defined the role of the nurse counsellor by he has reinforced the importance of the developing a good therapeutic
There are many ways of forming a relationship and gaining the trust and respect of the patient and I had to work out the different things that make a good therapeutic relationship. According to Hinchliff et al (2003) there are a number of important elements that make a good therapeutic relationship, but it is important to make clear that a therapeutic relationship is a formal relationship between a medical professional and patient. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) maintains that at all times nursing staff must maintain appropriate professional boundaries in the relationships they have with patients and clients.
In nursing practice, communication is essential, and good communication skills are paramount in the development of a therapeutic nurse/patient relationship. This aim of this essay is to discuss the importance of communication in nursing, demonstrating how effective communication facilitates a therapeutic
Effective nursing practice is in need of on an effective therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the client. This instruction addresses the qualities and capacities of an effective therapeutic relationship, the state of knowledge, and the information needed to be effective. To implement a therapeutic relationship effectively, hospitals characteristics must be supportive. The therapeutic relationship is also known as the helping alliance and it refers to the bond between a healthcare professional and a client. It is the means of professional hopes to involve with, so as to change the outcome result of the client. This relationship is significant to the client’s orientation
McCabe C. (2004) Nurse-patient communication: an exploration of patients’ experiences. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 13, 41-49.
Geldard, G & Geldard, K (2012) 7th Ed. Basic Personal Counselling: A Training manual for counsellors. N.S.W Australia. Pearson.
Emma thinks that she does not have difficulty with the supervision but she does sometimes struggle with the resistance in regards to the walk-in program. Historically, nurses have not done counselling although, it is within their scope of practice in an informal way through their college. In that instance, Emma tends to be strategic with coordinating walk-in and being mindful of which clients she assigns to each practitioner. For example, if a client presents with significant trauma symptoms or hyperarousal with trauma, nurses may not be as trauma informed as a social worker. However, a patient may present with a desire to access an assessment through psychiatry and to discuss their medication regimen where a mental health nurse may have a more advanced knowledge of medication. Nurses have addressed that ‘going in cold’ is outside of their purview and that seems to make them more resistant to being involved.
The British Association for Counselling’s Code of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors states that ‘Counselling may be concerned with developmental issues, addressing and resolving specific problems, making decisions, coping with crisis, developing personal insight and knowledge, working through feelings of inner conflict or improving relationships with others’ (BACP Ethical Framework).
Creating a safe environment, promoting trusting nurse-patient relationship, and increasing patient’s quality of life are result of implementing this theory in practice. Even though creating a change in nursing practice might be challenging, but it is doable by identifying the goal, pathway to reach the goal, education, trainings, and using evidence based practice. The main point of creating a therapeutic communication is to build a trusting nurse-patient relationship, decreasing nurse and patient’s anxiety level, increasing the level of care and patient’s quality of life. (Jasmine,
Nurse and patient relationships are referred to therapeutic relationships, they are a person-centred approach to care (Berman Et al 2012). For a therapeutic relationship to be effective in meeting the client/patient goals the nurse needs to ‘earn the person’s trust and respect.’ Berman Et al (2012) suggests that the trust and respect of a patient can be earned through ‘sound nursing knowledge and use of effective communication.’ This is reflected in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s competency standards. These national standards that are regulated and followed by all nurses, they are updated regularly to remain contemporary and
As a nurse, communication is an essential and important factor to building a therapeutic relationship between a nurse and patient as it is the difference between average and excellent nursing care, as it helps maintain a good quality of life and allows nurses’ and patients to interact and provide comfort when needed. The importance of good communication can become apparent with patients especially when they are in the hospital, as it helps the nurses build a positive relationship with patients and helps overcome barriers including physical, psychological and social. A therapeutic relationship is built on many factors which include both verbal and non-verbal communication which helps maintains the relationship and strengthens it due to the positive impact it has not only on the patient’s experience but also the nurse’s.
Therapeutic communication aims to accentuate understanding of the client’s situations to health professionals, to achieve a greater outcome of health. It focuses on the clients need not the nurses. Pontes (2008) notes that health professionals verbally communicate with clarity and brevity
A nurse-patient relationship is the basic requirements in all practice settings. Its usage is to manage communication between an organization and a public while maintaining boundaries in the therapeutic relationship. Based on Peplau’s interpersonal theory, communication takes place in a nurse-client relationship where therapeutic process occurs involving complex factors such as environment, attitudes, practices, and beliefs in the dominant culture (seu.edu, 2015). The actions of each person in a nurse-patient relationship is measured on the collaboration of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Nurse’s work to attain, maintain, and restore the patient’s health until patient have fulfilled the health care needs. Patient must be guided and provided a well-respected environment until a better health and specific needs are fully considered in the relationship. In this kind of setting, nurse’s must create relationship with patients by communicating receptivity, assimilating the concepts of empathy, trust, genuineness, respect, and confidentiality into their interactions.
Orlando’s theories assert that the client is a unique individual whose behavior is a cry for help. Behavior may be verbal or non-verbal. The nurse investigates the behavior and explores the meaning of the behavior. A caveat is that the client’s behavior may not clearly demonstrate the nature of the distress but must be considered as a plea for help (Schmieding, 1990). It is the nurse’s responsibility to engage the client to determine the needs and verify that the actions are helpful (Schmieding, 1990). Searching for meaning in the patient’s action is critical to the nursing process and practice.
Going through the theories and the practicalities involved in nursing care interventions without having a good knowledge of using therapeutic communication with patients will amount to nothing. According to Ellis, Gates and Kenworthy (2003, p.214) says that good communication is vital to effective nursing and it is a good skill for a mental health nursing to be able to build up a therapeutic rapport with patients. In my fifth face to face communication with Mr K, he opened to us why he refused to be prick in his fingers for blood sugar and also about his diagnosis. He said that his older brother was labelled as having schizophrenia and blood was taken from him monthly by the doctors and he still remains in the mental health institution till date. Throughout our conversation, I listened attentively. I
In therapeutic communication a nurse consciously helps a patient to understand what he or she is saying via verbal or non-verbal communication. (Sherko E., 2013) therapeutic communication is a skill learnt via study, practicing and observations. (Linton A, 2015) The nurse may even influence the patient to receiving a better life, express feelings and show acceptance to any situation through this method. (Sherko E., 2013) When a nurse speaks to a patient there must be empathy, trust and respect. The patient must know that the nurse is concerned and cares about his problem. (Antai-Otong D., 2008)