Describe any therapeutic nurse-client relationship experience you've had?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Hi.

Share your stories.

And no, this is not an assignment. People like to assume a lot, don't they? If you have nothing relevant or heartwarming stories to share, just don't post anything. Thank you :balloons:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moving to general nursing student assistance.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Since this is a public forum, people will post as they see fit. No need to be hostile. We see at least 10 threads per week on AN where people are asking members to do their homework. So you get cynical sometimes.

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I don't have patience for clients. I reserve my patience for patients.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
WOW, are all these people that answered are NURSES???? I cant believe you guys don't have or can't think of any therapeutic relationship you've had with your patients.

Well, I'm a newly grad nurse and read a lot of articles about nursing. So, I am used to saying the "client". It is disappointing to read that there is no stories to share. WOW

Maybe we were a little unclear.....share a story with us and we will understand better. I have yet to hear anyone call a patient a client for long once graduated from school and at the bedside. You call a patient a client and see how upset they get.......they'll be your patient very soon after.

Qualify what you mean by "therapeutic relationship" with a patient......I have a relationship with all my patients and some of them may not be so therapeutic depending on the patients blood alcohol. Share your experience and we'll chime in.......:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Since this is a public forum, people will post as they see fit. No need to be hostile. We see at least 10 threads per week on AN where people are asking members to do their homework. So you get cynical sometimes.

It's not cynical, It's annoyance. When it appears to be cut and pasted directly from the homework assignment I get annoyed that I'm expected to do the foot work for them or somehow not know that it is.....show me you've done the leg work and I'll write you a book.:)

And at least say please....

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

one example from my rich varied experiences over the past 15 years:

mike*, a 67-year-old african american patient, was an inpatient on the medical-surgical unit due to an exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. this condition is invariably fatal and the patient was in the end stages of this terminal disease. the nurse took the time to develop a therapeutic relationship with the patient and his wife and valued the patient with active listening and expressions of caring and compassion. the physician had written an order to wean the patient off oxygen and discharge the patient to home. after a period of weaning, the nurse carefully observed and documented the patient’s response. the nurse noted that the patient had an oxygen saturation of 84 to 88% on room air and that the patient was dyspneic. the nurse realized that the disease had progressed to the point where the patient continuously needed to be on supplemental oxygen. both the patient and his wife were requesting home oxygen. the nurse relayed this information to the physician. however, the physician stubbornly insisted on discharging the patient home on room air, without an order for home oxygen. the nurse, acting in an intercessory function, countered by calmly stating, “this patient is not going home without an order for home oxygen.” finally, the physician begrudgingly ordered an arterial blood gas analysis. the laboratory results confirmed that the patient had a dangerously low pao2 and sao2 on room air. at this point, the physician relented and ordered home oxygen therapy for the patient. the patient was unaware of the underlying conflict between the physician and nurse over the conditions of his discharge. the nurse informed the patient about the order for home oxygen, and both he and his wife were very pleased. the nurse educated the patient about the proper care of oxygen tanks and other pertinent equipment and arranged for delivery of home oxygen supplies by the local pharmacy. the supplies were at the patient’s house before he arrived home later that afternoon.

*name and other details changed to safeguard patient confidentiality

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