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Interpersonal Relations Theory : Hildegard Peplau And Psychiatric Nursing

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Intro to paper Theory serves as a guidance for any profession. There are countless theories which exist regarding patient care including Hildegard Peplau's interpersonal relations theory. Many non-nursing theories are relevant to the healthcare field including Kurt Lewin's change theory which discusses the process of change. This paper will discuss both Peplau's interpersonal theory and Lewin's change theory, their contributions and comparing both theories.
Hildegard Peplau Peplau is considered to be the mother of psychiatric nursing. Her clinical experience and theoretical work has shaped psychiatric nursing into its own specialty (Alligood, 2014). Peplau created interpersonal relations theory which focuses on the significance of the nurse-patient relationship (Alligood, 2014). The following section will further discuss Peplau's influences and the interpersonal relationship theory.
Interpersonal Relations Influences Peplau has had many contributions to nursing. Psychiatric nursing first became established as a specialty due to Peplau's contributions. Peplau performed an essential role in establishing the "foundation for professional practice of psychiatric nursing" (Halter, 2014 p. 24). Peplau was able to draw influences for interpersonal relations from many different sources. Peplau's work experience at a psychiatric hospital with a group of neo-Freudian analysts, working with World War II soldiers, attending Henry Stack Sullivan's seminars and connections with

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