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3 Interpersonal Skills and Therapeutic Relationship Skills
Joanna Regan1 and Karen Wild2
1 Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK
2 Nurse, UK
Chapter Aim
This chapter aims to provide the reader with an insight into the special nature of interpersonal and therapeutic relationship skills in patient–nursing associate interactions.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter, the reader will be able to:
Identify interpersonal and therapeutic relationship skills
Understand the skills required to enable a therapeutic relationship
Discuss the importance of the ‘6Cs’ that underpin the (National Health Service) NHS’s professional commitment to always deliver excellent care
Test Yourself Multiple Choice Questions
1 The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards of proficiency for nursing associates were published in:1993201820102008
2 The key elements of a therapeutic relationship can be described as:Respect for the personReceptivity which involves good listening skillsEmpathy and self‐awareness of one’s own skills and limitationsAll of the above
3 The Dignity Challenge Framework (Health and Social Care Advisory Service 2010) identifies respect as:‘Allowing people to freely access health care’‘The provision of free prescriptions to minority groups’‘The need to support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family’‘The need to allow freedom of speech and reciprocity of care’
4 In 1961, Carl Rogers described respect in terms of unconditional positive regard:TrueFalse
5 The Code (NMC) was updated in:2003200820002018
Introduction
Engaging in nursing implies that you have a commitment to caring for your patients and clients and to caring for yourself and that you possess a wider desire to care for the well‐being of others and communities. Caring cannot exist without the sharing of information and feelings, and the very close relationship between the nursing associate and their patient is no different. To establish this close relationship requires that the nursing associate be able to confidently display interpersonal and relationship skills in all aspects of care. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2018a) standards state that ‘The ability to communicate effectively, with sensitivity and compassion, and to manage relationships with people is central to the provision of high‐quality person‐centred care’.
A therapeutic relationship has been defined as one which is perceived by patients to be caring, supportive, non‐judgemental and to offer a perception of safety from threatening events. The key elements of a therapeutic relationship can be described as respect for the person, receptivity which involves good listening skills, empathy and self‐awareness of one’s own skills and limitations. Figure 3.1 demonstrates the varied aspects of what is considered to encompass the therapeutic relationship.
Touch Point
The key elements of a therapeutic relationship can be described as respect for the person, receptivity which involves good listening skills, empathy and self‐awareness of one’s own skills and limitations.
