Nurses' Perspectives on Fostering Therapeutic Relationships While Working With Clients Who Display Conflict Behaviour

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Nursing
• Psychiatric Care
• Therapeutic Relationships

Background:

• Therapeutic relationships are vital for mental health treatment.
• Conflict behaviors (e.g., self-harm, aggression) pose challenges for healthcare professionals.
• Managing conflict behavior is crucial in inpatient mental health units for care quality and therapeutic progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe nurses' perspectives on fostering therapeutic relationships with clients exhibiting conflict behavior.
• To explore strategies used by nurses in specialized treatment settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach.
• Conducted in a specialized inpatient mental health unit.
• Data collected through individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group with nurses.

Main Results:

• Nurses prioritize cooperation with clients and colleagues, inviting collaboration regardless of behavior.
• Key strategies include managing emotions, emphasizing client responsibility, and reducing conflict opportunities.
• Unit structure enhances safety by reducing ambiguity and inconsistencies.
• Nurses require collegial support, adequate time, and resources to manage conflict behavior effectively.

Conclusions:

• Nurses foster therapeutic relationships by focusing on cooperation, structure, and safety.
• Effective management of conflict behavior is achieved through a combination of interpersonal strategies and environmental support.
• Findings highlight the importance of a supportive work environment for nurses dealing with challenging client behaviors.