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Exploring the relationship between caring, love and intimacy in nursing
1Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Ireland, Galway.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|December 8, 2004
Summary
This study explores love, intimacy, and caring in nursing, finding that caring as a moral imperative is central to nursing practice. Patient characteristics influence when caring relationships become intimate.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Ethics
- Psychology
Background:
- Caring is a fundamental aspect of nursing practice.
- Love and intimacy are often discussed in relation to caring.
- Morse et al. (1990) proposed five distinct perspectives on caring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To illustrate the relationship between love, intimacy, and caring in nursing.
- To examine the roles of Agape and filia in nursing care.
- To determine factors influencing the development of intimacy in nurse-patient relationships.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the five perspectives on caring proposed by Morse et al. (1990).
- Exploration of the concepts of Agape (altruism/charity) and filia (brotherly love) in nursing.
- Examination of patient characteristics that foster intimacy in caring relationships.
Main Results:
- Two types of love, Agape and filia, are relevant in nursing.
- Intimacy in nurse-patient relationships is contingent upon specific patient characteristics.
- Caring as a moral imperative is identified as the most crucial perspective.
Conclusions:
- Caring as a moral imperative underpins other viewpoints on caring in nursing.
- Understanding the interplay of love and intimacy enhances the practice of caring.
- Nurse's response to patient characteristics is key to developing intimate caring relationships.
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