The Nurse-Patient Relationship

Essential Qualities of the Nurse-Patient Relationship Rapport Trust Respect Genuineness Empathy

Rapport feelings of mutual acceptance warmth harmony connectedness

Trust confidence in a person’s integrity, reliability, truthfulness, and desire to provide assistance nurses earn the trust of patients by their presence and caring

Respect involves a nonjudgmental approach the belief that a client is capable of learning and growing sometimes referred to as “unconditional positive regard”

Genuineness congruence or consistency there is a match between the verbal & nonverbal elements of a transaction being authentic or real

Empathy perceiving a situation from the client’s point of view as well as sensing the feelings and thoughts of the client a healing presence occurs when empathy if felt and the client feels understood by the nurse