Exploring the therapeutic potential of friendliness and friendship in nurse-client relationships

Friendliness and friendship, within the nurse-client relationship, are explored. Friendliness is superficial and includes nurses' smiling, joking, a warm tone of voice and interest in clients, while friendship is a deeper more affective involvement between client and nurse. The therapeutic outcomes of friendliness and friendship are significant. When nurses are friendly, client feelings of disease, strangeness and alienation are replaced by feelings of comfort, belonging and involvement. Friendship between nurse and client has similar outcomes but is a deeper experience that is simultaneously rewarding and sustaining for both. The therapeutic potential of friendliness and friendship suggests: (1) focused research would assist nursings' understanding of these concepts, and (2) determine their implications to nurse education and practice.