Effective Therapeutic Nurse Client Relationships With Mental Health

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.

A therapeutic relationship is a key component in the nursing profession. Without therapeutic relationships, the best possible care can never be provided. The foundation in which trust is built upon is created from the nurse’s ability to truly listen and respond appropriately. Listening creates the base in developing a strong, trusting relationship. Sometimes it is simply hearing what a patient says that makes all the difference, empowering them to open up and become more comfortable with the nurse (Hawkins-Walsh, 2000).

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

As nurses, it extremely important for us to have an understanding of mental health so we can decrease the stigma in the healthcare profession. There shouldn’t be a difference between a “psychiatric nurse” and a “general nurse”. Since over 50% of the population suffers from a mental illness, both professions should be equally educated and sensitive towards health care issues.

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,

The theory contained four major concepts that can be considered theoretically simple. Although the theory can be considered simple, it does not fit the idea of parsimony because it mainly accounts for psychiatric nurses specifically. However, the theory can still be applied generally to relationships with clients and any healthcare profession. Another consideration is that the client has to be able to perceive difficulties and therefore an infant or young child, comatose client, or mentally disabled client limits the generality to whom it is applied. The accessibility of Peplau’s theory can be validated through the indicators of an effective interpersonal relationship with empathic linkages and progression through the stages. Being able to assess behaviors is an ability accessible to most, which can be accessible to nursing practice whether it is in the community setting or hospital setting. The importance of Peplau’s theory contributes to the valued nursing goal of wellness by improving relationships that strengthen self-worth, provide a sense of connectedness with others, and support self-confidence.

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

The building of a positive relationship is described as showing warmth, respect and empathy however to provide effective communication between nurse and patient the nurse needs to be aware of and identify the patient’s physical, social and psychological barriers. A nurse can use these tools to build trust, mutual respect and confidence with the patient as these are needed for

Trust establishes a balanced relationship and increases its longevity. In nursing, trust is crucial in forming a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Belcher & Jones (2009) states that with trust in a nurse-client relationship, the client can focus on restoring optimal health without doubting the care or information given by the healthcare provider (p. 143). The nurse-client relationship thrives off of trust because the nurse understands their top priority is to assist the client. If the client does not trust their nurse, it may lead to the client providing inaccurate or misleading information that may delay performing a successful diagnosis.

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.

Dinc and Gastmans’ journal “Trust and Trustworthiness in nursing: an argument-based literature review” indicates that client trust is crucial to their desire to seek help as well as their level of compliancy to treatment, ie. cystic fibrosis client’s willingness to stick to their medication regimen. While they do research the inter/intra professional trust through the professions, it is ultimately the clients trust that allows professionals to assist in fulfilling their promises towards the goal of optimal health (Dinc & Gastman,

I believe that trust plays an important role in nursing as it is closely linked with positive outcomes such that it aids in educating clients and lessening anxiety. This is achieved by enabling a safe and open environment between two individuals, particularly between nurse and client as well as nurse and their colleagues. In a nurse-client relationship, the establishment of trust allows free interaction where the client feels safe to express oneself thereby providing accurate information which ultimately enables the nurse to foster care appropriately to the client’s needs. In order to gain a client’s trust, the nurse would take risks and expose their inner self and show other attributes such as confidence, empathy, and loyalty. Also, trust

This means that the nurse keeps the client’s values, beliefs, preferences, and needs in mind when considering all nursing interventions (Arnold & Boggs, 2011). The nurse should be able to be respectful of the patients expressed needs, provide the information and education that people want and need, and guarantee comfort physically and emotionally when building a therapeutic relationship with the client (Arnold & Boggs, 2011). It is also important to focus on being truthful with the client because this opens communication, and creates trust, respect, and shared responsibility with the client (Burkhardt, Nathaniel & Walton,

The therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is known as a close and consistent connection approaching during patients’

Therapeutic Communication has a huge impact on patients, whether, we, as nurses, see it or not. It is very important for a nurse to gain a patient’s trust. Many patients are already filled with sadness, nervousness and unsure thoughts of their current situation. Such thoughts may make a person scared to trust or open up to a nurse or doctor. Developing a close rapport with a patient can help to create a safe, warming environment, resulting in a positive experience throughout their time in the hospital or even nursing home. In “Therapeutic Communication”, Anna Lauria opens saying, “What we say or do not say can influence whether a client is able to quiet his mind, relax his body and initiate a healing response” (Lauria). Being a nurse, we automatically have the opportunity to create a strong influence on patients’ lives during, and even after, their hospital experience.