Nurse-Patient Relationship

What is the Nurse-Patient Relationship?

Many individuals will be hospitalized at one point during their lifetime. And recent studies indicate that the percentage of people hospitalized has increased in recent years. From 2000 to 2018, almost 6% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 44 were hospitalized at least once. In 2018, that percentage rose to 6.7%. In 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 10% of Americans were hospitalized.

In order to limit the strain on the American medical system, it is important to minimize the length of each patient's hospital stay. One way to do this is by fostering a positive relationship between nurse and patient. A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is a caring, professional relationship that supports the patient's well-being. The following lesson details the various components, stages, and benefits of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.

Why Do Nurses Build Therapeutic Relationships?

A therapeutic relationship is an interactive relationship between a care provider, their patient, and their patient's family. The relationship is characterized as boundaried and professional as well as caring and empathetic. Data suggests that there are many positives to establishing these bonds. Nurses seek to foster a relationship with their patients in order to benefit both the patient and the nurse.

Benefits of a successful nurse-patient relationship:

• Decreases the length of hospital stays
• Decreases the overall cost of a hospital visit
• Conserves valuable hospital resources
• Conserves nurse's time, allowing them to care for more individuals throughout the week
• Increases quality of care for patients
• Increases quality of life and overall job satisfaction for nurses

Components of a Therapeutic Relationship in Nursing

Although each nurse-patient relationship is unique, there are some key components that are essential. Nurses must show a genuine interest in their patients. Genuineness is the ability to be one's authentic self in a professional role. When time allows, a nurse may get to know their patient by asking questions about their family, work, hobbies, or interests. Although a nurse may see dozens of patients throughout the day, expressing an equal and genuine interest in each one's background, condition, and well-being is paramount.

Nurses must also provide empathy. Empathy is educated compassion for another's feelings. A successful nurse has the desire to understand their patient's experience. Empathy in a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship allows the nurse to assess the patient's condition and needs, set goals with the patient, and intervene when necessary.

Trust is the foundation of all successful intrapersonal relationships, including nurse-patient relationships. When hospitalized, an individual is in a vulnerable state. It is essential for the patient to believe that their nurse is honest, genuine, knowledgeable, and respectful. Trust is ultimately given by the patient. However, nurses may facilitate the establishment of trust in a number of ways.

Facilitating trust:

• Treating patients with dignity and respect
• Active and careful listening, makes the patient feel seen and heard
• Being accepting of the patient's background, culture, or lifestyle, allowing the patient to feel comfortable sharing information
• Being honest and consistent, showing the patient that they are trustworthy and their care is dependable

A successful nurse-patient relationship also requires mutual respect. Respect is the unconditional positive regard for another's beliefs, in spite of one's own feelings. Each patient brings with them a lifetime of experiences. Some patients may have unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive drinking. Some patients may have poor hygiene. Good nurses are nonjudgmental and accepting of their patients. Nurses may ensure they are treating their patients in the following ways.

Showing respect:

• Introducing themselves and asking their patient for their preferred title (Mr., Mrs., Ms.)
• Prioritizing patients' comfort, privacy, and modesty
• Communicating with the patient before all procedures
• Expressing a genuine willingness to learn and understand the patient's emotions, condition, and background