The History Of The Interpersonal Skills

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The nurse-patient relationships have many facets, for some it is considered a therapeutic relationship and/ or helping relationship, and to others as interpersonal relationship. The effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship in meeting the patient’s goals and needs can be achieved by winning the patient’s empathy, trust, and respect through both proficient nursing knowledge and therapeutic communication skills. Nurse’s needs to concede that interacting with the patients are multifaceted and diverse. Nurse-patient relationship cannot considered as a social relationship since the nurse undertakes accountability for the patient and emphasises on the patient’s needs and goals (Berman et al, 2010, p. 497).

To develop and encourage high quality care, nurses are required by Nursing and Midwifery Council to work collectively with the patient and other health care professionals. Both nurses and patient may come in contact with many health care professionals, for this reason, it is important to know the roles the nurse’s plays and what roles others play in the health care delivery system, in order to act as a patient advocate.

Effective communication incorporates effective use of interpersonal skills. To be able to demonstrate a therapeutic partnership with the patient the nurse must show that he/she possesses the following skills:

Respect – It is an attitude that emphasises the other person’s worth and individuality. In order to demonstrate respect, that the nurse must establish a genuine interest in the patient’s needs or necessities.

Rapport – By showing respect, rapports can be establish with the patient and family members. To confirm rapport, effective communication skills is used to encourage sense of confidence, trust and competence.

Trust – To earn trust, the nurse must first trust the patient to generate trust. Trust is associated with the provision of sincere interest and care to the patient.

Empathy – It is the ability to communicate understanding and vicariously experience the feelings and thoughts of others. The nurse demonstrate empathy by reflecting another person’s feelings and expressing those feelings to another person. The reflection should be done using the same terms and phrases the other person has used.

Therapeutic communication is a tool used by nurses in their therapeutic relationship with the patient. Therapeutic communication occurs when the nurse effectively uses communication techniques and processes with a patient in a goal-directed manner. It promotes understanding and is aimed at being therapeutic for the patient and developmental in relation to the therapeutic relationship (Peate, 2006, 123-131).

Therapeutic Interaction

For a therapeutic relationship to transpire, an array of antecedents are influenced, such as environment, therapeutic communication, patients, carers and professionals. In order to facilitate the nursing process, the use of therapeutic interaction must be well thought out. Therapeutic interaction is a dialogue with an objective and tenacity to explore, understand, and interpret the cause of distress to the patient.

Environmental factors such as low level of noise and privacy can do much in reducing the anxiety for both patient and nurses and is vital in facilitating communication, and subsequently therapeutic relationship

"Finely tuned communication skills are essential as nurses live their own life story and bear witness to the stories of those they serve (Balzer-Riley, 2012, p ix)".

Communication is a two way process between two or more individuals wherein information or data is shared through verbal, written or non-verbal communication. Communication involves the process of transmitting a message from one person (sender) to another person (receiver).

Other key factors that effects the progress of therapeutic relationships includes personal experiences, gender, culture and values, beliefs and world views. These factors can lead to predetermination on how the nurses and the patient will get to know each other (Cutcliffe and McKenna, 2005, p.310-311).

It is been said that a nurse’s most important tools is the therapeutic use of self. Our personalities and styles of relating have everything to do with how effectively we facilitate the healing process.

Identifiable elements that characterized therapeutic communication in the nurse-patient interaction. The nurse:

Is fully present – focused on the patient ideas about the situation and allows interaction with patient to command the nurse’s full attention.

Listens – listen’s attentively to determine the patient’s meanings and goals and clarifies understanding of what is heard.

Restatement – restatement or repeating the words of the patient.

Reflection – verbalising the content and the implied feelings of the patient.

Clarification – simplifying the thoughts and feelings into clear, and concise statements.

Speaks – communicates hope and not just ideas.

Honours the client’s autonomy – questions are ask to establish the truth about the situation as the patient recognize it (Williams, 2008, p.18)