4 Phases Of Therapeutic Relationship - Nurse In Nursing (2024)

by SOUMYA RANJAN PARIDA

The relationship develops through various stages. There are four phases of a therapeutic relationship through which the relationship between nurse and patient develops.

Table of Contents

Phases of therapeutic relationship

Four phases of therapeutic relationship as follows:

  1. Preinteraction phase
  2. Introductory/Orientation phase
  3. Working phase
  4. Termination phase

1. Preinteraction phase

The Preinteraction phase starts when the nurse is given the responsibility to start a therapeutic relationship with a patient. It also includes the thought process, planning, and feeling of a nurse before the first meeting with the patient.

Nurses responsibility in preinteraction phase

  • To become well known about own feelings, fear, and fantasies.
  • Analyze professional strengthss and weaknesses.
  • Collect information about the patient like demographic data, occupational data, etc.
  • Prepare a plan based on the data before meeting.
Problems found in preinteraction phase
  • To effectively analyze self.
  • Anxiety
  • Anger
  • Depression
  • Boredom
Keys to overcome problems in preinteraction phase

Nurses can take the help of senior experienced nurses to overcome anxiety, analyze self and identify the limitations.

2. Introductory/Orientation Phase

It is the first meeting of the nurse with her client (patient). In this phase, the main goal of nurses is to find out the cause of patients seeking help.

Nurses responsibility in Introductory/Orientation Phase

  • Nurses establish rapport, gain trust and create a familiar situation in which the patient accepts the nurse.
  • Nurse initiate effective communication.
  • She collects all the data about clients’ feelings, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • The nurse identifies major areas of the problem and plans for the interventions.
  • The nurse discusses with the client how to solve the problem, they mutually set goals.
Problems found in Orientation Phase
  • Both nurse and patient may have problems accepting each other as a unique individual.
  • They may have trust issues between them.
  • The problem may occur in mutually setting a goal.
Keys to overcome problems in Orientation Phase
  • The nurse may find similarities and can relate to an incident of her own. In this case, she might consult her senior supervisor.
  • The nurse must share her feelings freely without having fear of criticism.
  • During a discussion with the client, a nurse may have an emotional attachment with the client. A wise supervisor can identify it and help the nurse to overcome it.

3. Working Phase

Most of the therapeutic interventional activities carried out in this phase. Nurse and patient act as a team to identify stressors of the patient and promote the development of insight.

Nurses responsibility in working Phase

  • Gather more and more data of the patient to explore the stressors.
  • Help the patient to promote coping mechanisms and develop insight.
  • Let the patient understand his behavioral change by evaluating himself.
  • Facilitate individual functioning, If the required nurse can modify it by discussing with the client.
  • The nurse can evaluate the problems and redefine them.
Problems found in working Phase
  • Sometimes patients test the nurse.
  • Making an unrealistic goal can give frustration to both nurse and patient.
  • Nurses’ live problems.
  • Transference
  • Countertransference
  • Resistance behavior
Keys to overcome problems in working phase
  • Discussion with supervisors and other staff regarding the problem faced in this phase.
  • Nurses may find sometime that she is not having progress enough.
  • Handing the resistances effectively.

4. Termination Phase

It is the most important phase of the relationship. The main aim of this phase is to bring a therapeutic end to the termination phase.

Nurses responsibility in termination phase

  • Put reality of separation in front of the patient.
  • Nurse and patient should mutually explore the feelings, emotions,s and related behavior.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of therapy and achievement of goals.
  • Discuss future plans for meetings if required.
Problems found in termination phase
  • Anger
  • Punitive behavior.
  • Depression
  • Nurses unwillingness to implement any plan.
Keys to overcome problems in termination phase
  • Nurses should be aware of patient feelings and capable of managing the situation.
  • Encourage the patient to share his thoughts regarding the termination phase.
  • Nurses can take the help of the supervisor to help the nurse preparing for the discharge of a patient.

Research article

  1. A study conducted by Jesus Molina Mula and Julia Gallo Estrada found that a good nurse-patient relationship increases the satisfaction of the patient, decreases anxiety during the hospital stay, and improves quality. (1)
  2. A literature review suggests competencies and professional attributes of the nurse help in gaining the trust of the patient. (1)

Conclusion

Nurse and patients go through various phases of therapeutic relationship. It helps them to understand each other, identify the problems of the patient, and the problem is solved through mutual understanding. It also increases patients satisfaction and reduces anxiety during a hospital stay.

Frequently asked questions

What are the 4 phases of therapeutic relationship?

Four phases of therapeutic relationship are like followings:
1. Preinteraction phase
2. Introductory/Orientation phase
3. Working phase
4. Termination phase

What is pre interaction phase in therapeutic relationship?

The Preinteraction phase starts when the nurse is given the responsibility to start a therapeutic relationship with a patient. It also includes the thought process, planning, and feeling of a nurse before the first meeting with the patient.

What are the problems arise during pre interaction phase?

Problems of pre interaction phase are To effectively analyze self.
Anxiety
Anger
Depression
Boredom

How to overcome pre interaction phase problems?

Nurses can take the help of senior experienced nurses to overcome anxiety, analyze self and identify the limitations.

What is orientation phase?

It is the first meeting of the nurse with her client (patient). In this phase, the main goal of nurses is to find out the cause of patients seeking help.

What are the nurses responsibility in orientation phase?

Nurses establish rapport, gain trust and create a familiar situation in which the patient accepts the nurse.
Nurse initiate effective communication.
She collects all the data about clients’ feelings, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
The nurse identifies major areas of the problem and plans for the interventions.
The nurse discusses with the client how to solve the problem, they mutually set goals.

What are the problems may arise in orientation phase?

Both nurse and patient may have problems accepting each other as a unique individual.
They may have trust issues between them.
The problem may occur in mutually setting a goal.

What is working phase?

Most of the therapeutic interventional activities carried out in this phase. Nurse and patient act as a team to identify stressors of the patient and promote the development of insight.

What is termination phase?

It is the most important phase of the relationship. The main aim of this phase is to bring a therapeutic end to the termination phase.

What are the nurses responsibility in working phase?

Gather more and more data of the patient to explore the stressors.
Help the patient to promote coping mechanisms and develop insight.
Let the patient understand his behavioral change by evaluating himself.
Facilitate individual functioning, If the required nurse can modify it by discussing with the client.
The nurse can evaluate the problems and redefine them.

4 Phases Of Therapeutic Relationship - Nurse In Nursing (2024)

FAQs

What are the 4 phases of therapeutic nurse patient relationship? ›

Hildegarde Peplau describes four sequential phases of a nurse-client relationship, each characterized by specific tasks and interpersonal skills: preinteraction; orientation; working; and termination.

What are the four 4 information from the patient that the nurse should include on the pre interaction phase? ›

Nurses responsibility in preinteraction phase

To become well known about own feelings, fear, and fantasies. Analyze professional strengthss and weaknesses. Collect information about the patient like demographic data, occupational data, etc. Prepare a plan based on the data before meeting.

What is the working phase of the nurse patient relationship? ›

Working Phase:

The working or middle phase of the relationship is where nursing interventions frequently take place. Problems and issues are identified and plans to address these are put into action. Positive changes may alternate with resistance and/or lack of change.

What is Stage 1 of therapeutic relationship? ›

Orientation Stage

Establishing therapeutic environment. The roles, goals, rules and limitations of the relationship are defined, nurse gains trust of the client, and the mode of communication are acceptable for both nurse and patient is set.

What are the phases in therapeutic relationship? ›

Four phases of the nurse-patient relationship have been identified: preinteraction phase; introductory, or orientation, phase; working phase; and termination phase. Each phase builds on the preceding one and has specific tasks.

What are the four 4 major concepts in nursing theories? ›

Fawcett has named person, health, environment and nursing as the four main concepts of nursing that need to be comprehensively defined. The Human Caring Theory is significant because of its focus on the spiritual dimension of human beings.

What are the 4 phases of interpersonal relationship? ›

The nursing model identifies four sequential phases in the interpersonal relationship: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution.

What are the types of therapeutic relationship in nursing? ›

There are five components to the nurse-client relationship: trust, respect, professional intimacy, empathy and power.

What are therapeutic relationships in nursing? ›

The therapeutic relationship (also therapeutic alliance, the helping alliance, or the working alliance) refers to the relationship between a healthcare professional and a client (or patient). It is the means by which a therapist and a client hope to engage with each other, and effect beneficial change in the client.

What is the orientation phase therapeutic relationship? ›

The orientation phase is the period when the nurse and patients first meet and goals are set. The goal of the orientation phase is to build trust and respect. Next comes the working phase, which is the period when solutions are explored, tried, and evaluated.

What is the most important phase of the nursing process? ›

The assessment phase is a critical component of the nursing process. Information gathered in this phase is used to establish a foundation upon which all patient care moving forward is established.

What are the components phases of the nursing process? ›

  • The common thread uniting different types of nurses who work in varied areas is the nursing process—the essential core of practice for the registered nurse to deliver holistic, patient-focused care. Assessment. ...
  • Diagnosis. ...
  • Outcomes / Planning. ...
  • Implementation. ...
  • Evaluation.

What is the second phase of therapeutic relationship? ›

The early stages of therapy are based on the client's perception of the therapist's support and empathy. In later stages of therapy, a collaborative relationship develops to overcome or address the client's problems. During this second phase, there is a shared responsibility in working toward goals.

What is the termination phase? ›

Termination is the final stage of counseling and marks the close of the relationship. Termination is the counselor and the client ending the therapeutic alliance. The termination stage can be as important as the initial stage in that it is the last interaction many clients will have with the counselor.

What are the four basic elements of therapeutic communication? ›

What Are The Five 5 Essential Components Of Therapeutic Communication In Nursing?
  • Respect for the Patient's Values and Beliefs: Nurses must uphold and integrate the patient's personal values and beliefs into their care without exception. ...
  • Time: Nurses are busy people, no doubt. ...
  • Patience: ...
  • Honesty: ...
  • Compassion:

What are the four stages of the counseling process? ›

The Four-Stage Counseling Process
  • Identify the need for counseling.
  • Prepare for counseling.
  • Conduct the counseling session.
  • Follow-up.

Who proposed the 4 ways of knowing in nursing? ›

In the 1970s, Carper (1) introduced fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing including empirical, aesthetic, personal, and ethical knowing (2).

What are the 4 pillars of advanced nursing practice? ›

The four pillars of advanced practice are clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. Advanced practitioners can be found across a range of professional backgrounds and settings including but not limited to nursing, pharmacy, paramedics, other allied health professions, and midwifery.

What are four 4 primary categories of interpersonal communication? ›

When it comes to basic elements of interpersonal communication, the various types of possible communication will cluster under four basic categories: verbal, listening, written and nonverbal communication.

What are the 4 barriers of interpersonal relationship? ›

In conclusion, we can say that there are many barriers to interpersonal communication. These barriers include environmental barriers, language/semantic barriers, psychological barriers and socio-cultural barriers.

What are the 4 purposes of interpersonal communication? ›

We communicate to: 1) exchange information, 2) create, develop and maintain interpersonal relationships, 3) influence others, 4) de ne and give meaning to persons' experiences, 5) Create a shared social reality for self and other.

What are the key elements of a therapeutic relationship? ›

Edward Bordin, defined a good therapeutic relationship as consisting of three essential qualities: an emotional bond of trust, caring, and respect; agreement on the goals of therapy; and collaboration on the "work" or tasks of the treatment.

What is the therapeutic relationship model? ›

The Therapeutic Relationship Model is based on the understanding that the task of the thera- peutic relationship is to create a delicate tapestry, the purpose of which is "to keep buoyant the life project of the evolving person" (Kegan, 1982, p. 16).

Why is therapeutic relationship important in nursing? ›

There is evidence that a good-quality therapeutic relationship improves both patient satisfaction and professional fulfilment, saves time, and increases compliance with prescribed medication.

What is the role of the therapeutic relationship? ›

The purpose of a therapeutic relationship is to assist the individual in therapy to change his or her life for the better. Such a relationship is essential, as it is oftentimes the first setting in which the person receiving treatment shares intimate thoughts, beliefs, and emotions regarding the issue(s) in question.

What are the 4 common factors of all therapeutic practice? ›

The most widely studied common factors include the therapeutic alliance, therapist empathy, positive regard, genuineness, and client expectations for the outcome of therapy (i.e., the extent to which clients believe therapy will be helpful in alleviating problems) (Cuijpers, Reijnders, & Huibers, 2019).

What are the 4 P's of patient care? ›

The four Ps (predictive, preventive, personalized, participative) [3] (Box 21.1) represent the cornerstones of a model of clinical medicine, which offers concrete opportunities to modify the healthcare paradigm [4].

What are the 5 components of the therapeutic relationship? ›

The five key components of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship are professional intimacy, power, empathy, respect and trust. Regardless of the context, length of interaction and whether the nurse is the primary or secondary care provider, these components are always present.

What are the 4 main categories of the therapeutic powers of play? ›

Revised and expanded, The Therapeutic Powers of Play, Second Edition explores the powerful effects that play therapy has on different areas within a child or adolescent's life: communication, emotion regulation, relationship enhancement, and personal strengths.

What are the 4 fundamental components of Counselling? ›

The basic stages of counseling are: 1) Developing the client/clinician relationship; 2) Clarifying and assessing the presenting problem or situation; 3) Identifying and setting counseling or treatment goals; 4) Designing and implementing interventions; and 5) Planning, termination, and follow-up.

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