Peplau's Theory Of Interpersonal Relations Essay

In the year 1952, Hildegard E. Peplau came up with the Interpersonal Relations Theory due to the increasing need for a good partnership between a patient and a nurse in order to substantiate a good nursing practice (Craven & Hirnle, 2007). Her theory arose from influences of major theorists like Maslow, Symonds and Sullivan. The theory defines nursing as an interpersonal therapeutic interaction between a sick individual and an educated nurse who can identify and respond to the individual’s need for help. The theory has four major assumptions namely; interaction between a nurse and patient and secondly, both mature from the therapeutic relationship. Thirdly, interviews and communication are fundamental tools and lastly is that nurses should understand themselves to promote patient’s growth. The major concepts of this theory attempts to give nurses a purpose for helping patients identify difficulties in their lives, and how they can apply different human relation practices to help them solve problems (Craven & Hirnle, 2007).
The first concept is man whom Peplau defines as an organism that strives to reduce the strain caused by needs in his or her own way. Therefore, he or she has some felt need. The other concept is health that she defines as a word that symbolizes a forward movement of human processes in the aim of a creative, constructive, fruitful, personal and social living. The other concept is society and or environment where she encourages the nurses in different fields to consider how the patients’ culture and surrounding can help the patient adjust to the new routine. The other concept is nursing where she considers it as one of the significant therapeutic relationships that focus on interpersonal processes between the sick individual and educated personnel. The personnel should be in a position to identify and respond to the client’s need for help (Craven & Hirnle, 2007).
The theory has sub concepts where the nurse plays the role of a stranger, resource person, teacher, leader and technician. All these play an important role in shaping a sophisticated and whole therapeutic association between the nurse and patients. There are four phases of a patient-nurse relationship. The first one is the orientation phase where the nurse identifies and defines the problem and respond to client needs. The second phase is identification phase where patient begins to work collaboratively with a nurse. Exploitation phase entails the client making full use of the services offered by the nurse. The last phase is resolution phase where the client becomes independent and no longer needs the services of the nurse (Alligood, & Tomey, 2006).
Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory can be applied in the pulmonary unit in a hospital in different ways. Personally, this theory would be the foundation of my daily practice. The major concepts of the theory provide clear indications of what I as a nurse should do to create a good relationship with the patients. Therefore, in a case for example, where the patient under my care lacks sufficient knowledge related to treatment of pulmonary diseases, then the first thing I would do is to set goals with the client, where I would ensure that in the process, the patient gets knowledge about all the alternatives available. This would also entail the benefits of each alternative. After this the next step would be carrying out plans that were mutually agreed after explaining the treatment measures and some of the aggressive signs that the patient might witness. The last thing would be allowing the patient to express her feelings or problems in regards to self care. In most cases, if the patient does not show the level of independence in acquisition of information and self care, then the process will be repeated.

References

Alligood, M. R., & Tomey, A. M. (2006). Nursing theory- utilization and application. Missouri:
Mosby Elsevier.
Craven, R. F., & Hirnle, C. J. (2007). Fundamentals of nursing – human health and function.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.