Professional Issues - Therapeutic Relationships

Question 1

Importance of therapeutic relationships

Answer 1

• to provide continuity of care
• ability to get to know clients as people, holistic, life stories and backgrounds that make them who they are
• to be non-judgmental, and promote trust, engagement and psycho-education commencement
• relationship based on respect, dignity and tolerance
• partnership between nurse & patient, not based around nurse providing treatment / giving orders based off doctors wishes
• creation of a shared experience
• use the relationship to help the client find their “own way”
• developing trust, balancing power, validating clients experience and feelings

Question 2

Therapeutic relationships involve

Answer 2

• involve:
  
  • conveying understanding and empathy
  • accepting individuality
  • providing support
  • being there / being availble
  • being genuine
  • promoting equality
  • demonstrating respect
  • maintaing clear boundaries
  • having self awareness

Question 3

Stages of therapeutic relationships

Answer 3

• orientation phase
  
  • problem defining phase, begins when client meets nurse as stranger, define problem and deciding on type of service needed
  • client seeks assistance, conveys needs, asks questions, shares preconceptions and expectations
  • nurse responds, explains roles to client, helps to identify problems and to use available resources and services
  • client begins to have sense of belonging, capabilities in problem solving, reduced feelings of hopelessness & helplessness
• working phase, identifcation phase
  
  • use of professional assistance for problem solving alternatives, services used are based on needs and intersts of the client
  • client feels intergral part of the process, may make minor requests or use attention getting techniques, may fluctuate on independence
  • interview questions used to explore, understand and adequately deal with underlying problem
  • nurse needs to be aware of various phases of communication, aids client in exploring all avenues of help, progress made towards final step
• termination / resolution phase
  
  • involves terminating professional relationship when needs of the client have been met through collaboration between nurse and client
  • relationship needs to be dissolved, eliminate psychological dependence, encourage client to break away and demonstrate emotional balance
  • client gradually puts aside old goals in place of new goals

Question 4

Nursing roles

Answer 4

• stranger role
• resource role
• teaching role
• counselling role
• surrogate role
• active leadership role

Question 5

Professional boundaries

Answer 5

• limits that allow safe connections based on the needs of individuals
• provide a framework for developing trust
• nurse needs to maintain limits as there can be a power imbalance based off the information the client is providing, maintain confidentiality