Lisa Latham
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Hildegard E. Peplau (1952)
Interpersonal Relations as a Nursing Process: Man as an Organism That Exists in an Unstable
Equilibrium
Peplau developed the theory as interpersonal relationships. She was a staff nurse, researcher, and an
educator. She urged nurses to talk to her patients and use them as sources of observation from which
concepts could be derived that were unique to nursing (Peden, 2001). The nurse uses the nursepatient relationship to assess the patient’s psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs with learned
communication skills, personal strengths, and an understanding of human behavior. The result is to
produce desirable goals that benefit the patient. In any patient setting, trust occurs when the patient is
confident in the nurse’s conveyance of integrity and reliability. It is through the nurse-patient
relationship that the nurse can express empathy toward the patient.
Three phases: orientation, working, termination phase

The initial phase of Peplau’s theory is orientation. During this time the patient has healthseeking behaviors. The introductions begin, and boundries are set.

Phase two of Peplau’s theory is the working phase, which is appropriately named because
most of the work of the relationship occurs here. This is further categorized into two
subcategories: identification and exploitations. The nurse models appropriate actions to
take for determined situations.

Phase three: termination phase-This phase allows the nurse and patient to disengage from
their relationship. The nurse summarizes the care, action plans, and organizes actions for
independence.
According to Koloroutis (2010), the nurse patient relationship is the foundation for excellent care
delivery.
Lisa Latham
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When the nurse allows the patient to express feelings, the patient’s experience may strengthen
positive forces in personality (Fawcett, 2010).
Hines and Frase (2011), found that one in eight emergency department visits are related to
mental illness and that it is essential to communicate proactively with patients for the best
outcome.
What about this theorist strikes a chord with me? The theory seems focused, on assessing the
client’s problems, rapidly establishing a relationship with then, and assisting the client to come to
a point of resolution. The act of taking the time to communicate on a human level is huge, and I
personally find it very effective.
What is my theory of nursing? I follow Peplau. My focus is on caring, working to develop a
model to identify the client’s feelings, and help lead them to actions that bring positive
outcomes.
Person- Acknowledge the person as a person deserving of your time and care, and if given the
opportunity and education, could be a high functioning, independent individual.
Nurse-The nurse should be competent, caring, compassionate, and make every effort to connect
with the patient on a personal level.
Health-The Patient can be brought to a point where they can achieve optimal health by opening
op to the caregiver, listening to the education provided, and begin to implement change.
Environment (the nursing paradigm): The environment must be rapid assessed as therapeutic,
versus not. If the environment is not quiet, and private, limited work and be expected.
Lisa Latham
Fraze T. (2011). Emergency department visits in rural and non-rural hospitals, 2008. Retrieved
from http://hcup.ahrq.gov/
Koloroutis M. (2010). Relationship-based care: A model for transferring practice. Minneapolis,
MN: Creative Care Management, Inc.
Peplau’s (1952) theory can be useful for establishing the nurse–patient relationship can provide
foundations for futhered research theory.
Peplau H. E. (1952). Interpersonal relations in nursing. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
Peden A. (2001). Hildegard Peplau: The process of practice-based theory development. In Parker M.
E. (Ed.), Nursing theories and nursing practice (pp. 56-64).Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.
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