Hildegard .E.

Peplau
“Theory of interpersonal relations”
“Nursing is an interpersonal process because it involves
interaction between two or more individuals with a
common goal. Nursing is therapeutic in that it is a
healing art assisting an individual who is sick or in need
of health care.”
Introduction

 Born in Reading, Pennsylvania [1909]

 Graduated from a diploma program in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1931.

 Done BA in interpersonal psychology from Bennington College in 1943.

 MA in psychiatric nursing from Colombia University New York in 1947.
 EdD in curriculum development in 1953.

 Professor emeritus from Rutgers university

 Started first post baccalaureate program in nursing

 Published Interpersonal Relations in Nursing in 1952

 1968 :interpersonal techniques-the crux of psychiatric nursing

 Worked as executive director and president of ANA.

 Worked with W.H.O, NIMH and nurse corps.

 Died in 1999.

Psychodynamic nursing
 Understanding of ones own behavior
 To help others identify felt difficulties
 To apply principles of human relations to the problems that arise at all levels
of experience
 In her book she discussed the phases of interpersonal process, roles in
nursing situations and methods for studying nursing as an interpersonal

process.
 According to Peplau, nursing is therapeutic in that it is a healing art, assisting

an individual who is sick or in need of health care.

 Nursing is an interpersonal process because it involves interaction between

two or more individuals with a common goal.

 The attainment of goal is achieved through the use of a series of steps

following a series of pattern.

 The nurse and patient work together so both become mature and

knowledgeable in the process.

Definitions
1. Person :A developing organism that tries to reduce anxiety caused by needs
2. Environment : Existing forces outside the organism and in the context of

culture
3. Health : A word symbol that implies forward movement of personality and
other ongoing human processes in the direction of creative, constructive,
productive, personal and community living.
4. Nursing: A significant therapeutic interpersonal process. It functions
cooperatively with other human process that make health possible for
individuals in communities 

Roles of nurse

1. Stranger: receives the client in the same way one meets a stranger in other

life situations provides an accepting climate that builds trust.

2. Teacher: who imparts knowledge in reference to a need or interest

3. Resource Person : one who provides a specific needed information that aids

in the understanding of a problem or new situation

4. Counselors : helps to understand and integrate the meaning of current life

circumstances ,provides guidance and encouragement to make changes

5. Surrogate: helps to clarify domains of dependence interdependence and

independence and acts on clients behalf as an advocate.

6. Leader : helps client assume maximum responsibility for meeting treatment

goals in a mutually satisfying way

Additional Roles include:

1.   Technical expert
2.   Consultant
3.   Health teacher
4.   Tutor
5.   Socializing agent
6.   Safety agent
7.   Manager of environment
8.   Mediator
9.   Administrator
10.  Recorder observer
11.  Researcher

Theory of interpersonal relations

 Middle range descriptive classification theory

 Influenced by Harry Stack Sullivan's theory of inter personal relations (1953)

 Also influenced by Percival Symonds , Abraham Maslow's and Neal Elger
Miller 

 Identified four sequential phases in the interpersonal relationship:

1.      Orientation
2.      Identification
3.      Exploitation
4.      Resolution
Orientation phase
 Problem defining phase
 Starts when client meets nurse as stranger

 Defining problem and deciding type of service needed

 Client seeks assistance ,conveys needs ,asks questions, shares

preconceptions and expectations of past experiences

 Nurse responds, explains roles to client, helps to identify problems and to use
available resources and services

Factors influencing orientation phase

Identification
phase
 Selectio
n of

appropriate professional assistance

 Patient begins to have a feeling of belonging and a capability of dealing with
the problem which decreases the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness

Exploitation phase
 Use of professional assistance for problem solving alternatives
 Advantages of services are used is based on the needs and interests of the
patients
 Individual feels as an integral part of the helping environment

 They may make minor requests or attention getting techniques

 The principles of interview techniques must be used in order to

explore ,understand and adequately deal with the underlying problem

 Patient may fluctuates on independence

 Nurse must be aware about the various phases of communication

 Nurse aids the patient in exploiting all avenues of help and progress is made
towards the final step

Resolution phase
 Termination of professional relationship
 The patients needs have already been met by the collaborative effect of
patient and nurse
 Now they need to terminate their therapeutic relationship and dissolve the

links between them.

 Sometimes may be difficult for both as psychological dependence persists
 Patient drifts away and breaks bond with nurse and healthier emotional
balance is demonstrated and both becomes mature individuals

Interpersonal theory and nursing process

 Both are sequential and focus on therapeutic relationship
 Both use problem solving techniques for the nurse and patient to collaborate
on, with the end purpose of meeting the patients needs
  Both use  observation
communication and recording as
basic tools utilized by nursing
Assessment Orientation
Data collection and Non continuous data
analysis [continuous] collection
May not be a felt need Felt need
Define needs
Nursing diagnosis Identification
Planning Interdependent goal
Mutually set goals  setting
Implementation Exploitation
Plans initiated towards Patient actively
achievement of seeking and drawing
mutually set goals help
May be accomplished Patient initiated
by patient , nurse or
family
Evaluation Resolution
Based on mutually Occurs after other
expected behaviors phases are completed
May led to termination successfully
and initiation of new Leads to termination
plans  

Peplau’s work and characteristics of a theory

 Theories can interrelate concepts in such a way as to create a different way of
looking at a particular phenomenon.

 Four phases interrelate the different components of each phase.

 The nurse patient interaction can apply to the concepts of human

being ,health, environment and nursing.

1. Theories must be logical in nature

 Provides a logical systematic way of viewing nursing situations


 Key concepts such as anxiety, tension, goals, and frustration are
indicated with explicit relationships among them and progressive
phases

2. Theories should be relatively simple yet generalizable

 It provides simplicity in regard to the natural progression of the NP

relationship.

 Leads to adaptability in any nurse patient relationship.

 The basic nature of nursing still considered an interpersonal process

3. Theories can be the bases for hypothesis that can be tested.

  Has generated testable hypotheses.

4. Theories contribute to and assist in increasing the general body of knowledge

within the discipline through the research implemented to validate them.

 In 1950’s two third of the nursing research concentrated on N-P

relation ship.

5. Theories can be utilized by practitioners to guide and improve their

practice.

 Peplaus’s anxiety continuum is still used in anxiety patients

6. Theories must be consistent with other validated theories, laws, and

principles

but will leave open unanswered questions that need to be investigated.

Consistent with various theories

Limitations
 Intra family dynamics, personal space considerations and community social
service resources are considered less

 Health promotion and maintenance were less emphasized

 Cannot be used in a patient who doesn’t have a felt need eg. With drawn
patients, unconscious patients 
 some areas are not specific enough to generate hypothesis 

Research Based on Peplau’s Theory

 Hays .D. (1961).Phases and steps of experimental teaching to patients of
a concept of anxiety: Findings revealed that when taught by the
experimental method, the patients were able to apply the concept of
anxiety after the group was terminated.
 Burd .S.F. Develop and test a nursing intervention framework for  working
with anxious patients: Students developed competency in beginning
interpersonal relationship