The therapeutic nurse-patient relationship (NPR) is defined as a helping relationship based on mutual trust and respect that assists the patient with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The purposes of the NPR include facilitating communication, assisting with problem solving, and promoting self-care and independence. Key dimensions of the NPR include empathetic understanding, unconditional positive regard, therapeutic use of self, confidentiality, clear communication, and respect. The relationship progresses through pre-orientation, orientation, working, and termination phases with specific tasks for nurses in each phase such as establishing rapport, setting goals, and defining problems.

1. Therapeutic Relationship or
Therapeutic Nurse Patient
Relationship (NPR)
One to One Relationship
Relationship is a state of
being related or a state of
affinity between two
individuals

2. 3.1 Definition of therapeutic
relationship
• A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is defined as a
helping relationship that's based on mutual trust and
respect, the nurturing of faith and hope, being
sensitive to self and others, and assisting with the
gratification of the patient's physical, emotional, and
spiritual needs through the use of knowledge and skill
• Therapeutic relationship is a close, helping relationship
based on trust, which allows the nurse and client to
work collaboratively

3. Purposes of NPR
• Facilitating communication of distressing
thought and feelings
• Assisting the patient with problem solving
• Helping patients examine self defeating
behaviors and test alternatives
• Promoting self care and independence

4. Dimensions of NPR
• Empathetic understanding
• Unconditioned positive regard
• Therapeutic use of self
• Confidentiality
• Clear communication
• Respect

5. 3.2 Stages/ phases of therapeutic
relationship
• Pre orientation or pre introductory phase
• Orientation or introductory phase
• Working phase
• Termination phase

6. Pre orientation or pre introductory
phase
• The period immediately after nurse gets assigned
to a patient lasting up to just before first
interaction with the client
• Nurses’ tasks:
- Explore own feelings, fantasies and fears
-Analyze own professional strengths and
limitations
- Gather data about patient whenever possible
- Plan for 1st meeting with the patient

7. Pre orientation…
• Barriers:
- Difficulty in self analysis
- Anxiety
- Emotional instability: boredom, anger,
indifference, depression etc
• Ways to overcome barriers:
-Take help form seniors, colleagues, and others
- Set realistic goals
- Select patient according to own interest

8. Orientation or introductory phase
• This is the time when the nurse and patient meet each
other for the first time
• Nurses’ tasks:
- Establish rapport, trust and acceptance
- Make clear statement that the relationship has to be
terminated at a point
- Establish communication; assist in the verbal expression
of thoughts or feelings
- Gather data, including the patient’s feelings, strengths and
weaknesses
- Define patient’s problems; set priorities for nursing
interventions
- Mutually set goals

9. Orientation or introductory phase
• This is the time when the nurse and patient meet each
other for the first time
• Nurses’ tasks:
- Establish rapport, trust and acceptance
- Make clear statement that the relationship has to be
terminated at a point
- Establish communication; assist in the verbal expression
of thoughts or feelings
- Gather data, including the patient’s feelings, strengths and
weaknesses
- Define patient’s problems; set priorities for nursing
interventions
- Mutually set goals