Attachment Between Nurses and Patients in Hospital Settings: Concept Analysis Using Walker and Avant's Method

Although attachment is a key concept in human relationships, nurse-patient attachment in clinical settings has not been clearly defined.

To clarify the concept of nurse-patient attachment from the patient's perspective.

Walker and Avant's eight-step concept analysis framework was employed. A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed studies published from 2000 to March 2026. Inclusion criteria focused on nurse-patient interactions, attachment theory in clinical settings, and patient-reported experiences. Two independent researchers screened the literature for relevance. The analysis followed the prescribed steps, including identifying attributes and developing model and contrary cases.

Based on 26 identified studies, nurse-patient attachment was defined as patients' experiences of emotional and clinical security derived from interactions with nurses during health-related crises. Key attributes included perceived relational security, reliance on nurses as supportive figures, and emotion regulation. Identified antecedents were vulnerability owing to illness, nurse availability, and emotional responsiveness. Consequences (potential outcomes) included perceived safety, strengthened self-efficacy, clinical resilience, and a collaborative therapeutic alliance.

This study clarified the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of nurse-patient attachment. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding how attachment may relate to trust and health outcomes, highlighting the need for future empirical research to evaluate these relationships in clinical practice.