Nurse-Patient Relationship Essay Example

Nurse Nurse-Patient Relationship Essay Nurse-Patient Relationship Essay Running head: Nurse-Patient Relationship 1 Nurse-Patient Relationship as a caring relationship Abra Nayo Central Connecticut State University Nursing 110-01: Introduction to Nursing Theories Dr. Linda Wagner November 28, 2011 Nurse-patient relationship as a caring relationship 2 The nurse-patient relationship is central to patient satisfaction and sets a tone of the care experience. Nurses are the health care professionals that spends the most time with the patients. By analyzing and understanding the factors that have the greatest impact on overall patient satisfaction, nurses can aim, and can focus their efforts, energies, and resources on improvements with the greatest potential to enhance the patients experience. There are many principles that nurses should use to build a healthy, careful balance of trust, and professional respect with the patients. However, there are also benefits as well as challenges to developing nurse-patient relationship. Ellen Meeropol(2011) in House Arrest, a captivating, and compelling fiction book, examines an unlikely relationship between two woman who , on the surface, could not be more different. Pippa is pregnant and under house arrest for the death of her daughter , and Emily is the nurse assigned to manage Pippa’s prenatal care. As the story unfolds Meeropol uses her twenty-year nursing expertise to describe the relationship of the two women. The question is what is that particular, purposeful relationship that nurse and patient sometimes partake? This paper will examine the nurse-patient relationship, showing the positive and the most challenging elements so that there can be a deeper understanding and admiration for patients and the impact on the nurse and the patients. The nurse-patient relationship is first based on caring relationship. It is a nurse’s job to care a patient’s medical needs. However, caring for their emotional well-being can also have just as beneficial an impact on patient care. The relationship between nurse and patient requires trust, as well as understanding . For a patient to disclose private or embarrassing details about their physical or mental condition, they need to trust that the nurse will treat them with dignity and respect. Furthermore, patients will only follow the advice of their nurse if they trust in his or her Nurse-patient relationship as a caring relationship professional opinion. This careful balance of trust and professional respect is one of the founding principle for a healthy and respectful nurse-patient relationship. Also, the nurse-patient relationship demonstrates an imbalance of power. Indeed, the nurse has a more extensive knowledge base in terms of care and treatment options. The patient might rely on their nurse and other health care professionals to advise them of the best treatment options for their needs. As a result , there can be unintended power struggle. The nurse , feeling he or she knows what is the best for the patient, can unwittingly influencing a patient to choose the best course of care is important for patient participation, nurses must learn to walk a fine line between influence and assuming control.