A student nurse is having difficulty establishing relationships with patients. Which of the following should this student be counseled to do?

Question

1. Develop self-awareness to focus on being helpful to patients.
2. Study cognitive theory.
3. Review the concepts of caring.
4. Focus on the purpose of a therapeutic alliance.

Answer 1

Develop self-awareness to focus on being helpful to patients.

Rationale: One aspect of the nurse−patient relationship is that of the nurse's self-awareness. The nurse needs to be responsible to expand insight into her own personality. The theorist Peplau explains that a basic task of nursing education should be the development of each nurse as a person who wants to nurse patients in a helpful way. The nurse should be encouraged to develop a helpful nature to her personality. Cognitive theory does not assist with the development of the nurse−patient relationship. The concepts of caring might assist the nurse, but will not help with the nurse's personality development. A therapeutic alliance is when the nurse and patient work together to reach mutually agreed-upon goals.