Nurse-Patient Relationship (NPR)

Nurse Patient Relationship

• Refers to the experience of series of experiences between the nurse and the patient
• It refers to the total relationship.

Nurse Patient Interaction
• Any nurse-patient contact during which the nurse and the patient have reciprocal influence to each other, communicating verbally and non-verbally.
• It refers to communication.

Objectives of the Nurse-Patient Relationship
1. To know the patient
2. To ascertain and meet the needs of the patient.
3. To fulfill the purpose of nursing
4. To develop self awareness

Characteristics of Therapeutic Relationship
1. Listening – perceiving the patient’s message in the cognitive level and effective domains.
2. Warmth – feeling of cordiality and inaction
3. Genuiness – being one’s self and not acting out of a role; being open and truthful
4. Attentiveness – demonstrating a concentration of time or attention to the nurse
5. Empathy – understanding the patient’s feeling and viewing the world as the patient does.
6. Positive regard – accepting the patient as he is.

Facts to Remember:
1. It is not friendship
2. It’s main benefit is to the patient.
3. It is an opportunity of the patient to deal with his problem that brought him to treatment.
4. The nurse approach to the relationship is crucial to the client’s being able to express his feelings.