The nurse-patient relationship as a caring relationship

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Systems
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• The existing body of research on healthcare professional-patient relationships is notably limited.
• Studies specifically examining the role of nurse professionals as active agents within these relationships are even scarcer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the paucity of research on nurse-patient relationships.
• To analyze the role of nurses as agents within the nurse-patient dynamic.
• To explore the nurse-patient relationship through the lens of general systems theory.

Main Methods:

• A review of existing literature was conducted.
• The general systems theory was employed as a theoretical framework.
• Qualitative analysis of the nurse-patient interaction was performed.

Main Results:

• The review identified a significant gap in studies concerning healthcare professional-patient relationships.
• A critical lack of research was found regarding the specific role of nurses as agents in these interactions.
• The application of general systems theory highlighted the need for further investigation into the components of the nurse-patient relationship.

Conclusions:

• There is a pressing need for more empirical research on the nurse-patient relationship.
• Further investigation is required to clarify the function of various elements within the nurse-patient dyad in daily practice.
• Understanding patient expectations within the nurse-patient relationship warrants deeper exploration.