Which of the following nursing theories primarily centers on the idea that the nurse-patient relationship is a therapeutic one, built on trust and mutual understanding?

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

Hildegard Peplau's theory, known as the Theory of Interpersonal Relations, is centered on the therapeutic relationship between a nurse and a patient.
It views nursing as a goal-oriented process where the nurse and patient work together as partners to identify and resolve health-related difficulties.
The theory is structured around four sequential phases that define the progression of the relationship: Orientation, Identification, Exploitation, and Resolution.
This framework helps nurses to systematically guide interactions towards therapeutic outcomes, making it foundational to psychiatric nursing and valuable in all patient care settings.

Option A: Nightingale's Environmental Theory focuses on the patient's physical environment (e.g., cleanliness, ventilation, light) as the primary factor influencing health and recovery, not the interpersonal dynamics between nurse and patient.
Option C: Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory centers on the patient's ability to perform self-care. The nurse's role is to intervene when a patient is unable to meet their own care needs, rather than focusing on the therapeutic relationship itself.
Option D: Henderson's Need Theory defines nursing as assisting patients with 14 fundamental needs (e.g., breathing, eating, sleeping) to help them gain independence. While this involves interaction, its primary focus is on meeting needs, not the process of the therapeutic relationship.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Nursing Theories: Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Peplau's theory is a cornerstone of psychiatric-mental health nursing, where building trust and a therapeutic alliance is essential for patient progress.
In any setting, using Peplau's phases helps nurses structure their interactions, from the initial meeting (Orientation) to planning care (Identification), working towards goals (Exploitation), and preparing for discharge (Resolution).
What if the patient is unconscious? In this scenario, Peplau's interactive theory is less applicable. A nurse would rely more on Henderson's theory to meet the patient's 14 basic needs or Orem's theory, operating in a wholly compensatory system to manage the patient's self-care deficits.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem: 'therapeutic nurse-patient relationship built on trust and mutual understanding'.
Next, recall the central theme of each major nursing theorist presented in the options.
Analyze the options based on their core concepts: Nightingale is linked to the environment; Orem is linked to self-care deficits; Henderson is linked to 14 basic needs.
Recognize that 'interpersonal relations' is the key concept in Peplau's theory, which directly matches the question's focus on the therapeutic relationship.
Conclude that Peplau's theory is the only one that primarily centers on the dynamic between the nurse and the patient as a therapeutic tool.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nursing Theories: Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory
Stem keywords: nursing theories, nurse-patient relationship, therapeutic, trust, mutual understanding
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 1054-1056

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 p. 70-72

Practise the full BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.