Joyce Travelbee: The Story of a

New Orleans Nurse Theorist

by

Deborah Garbee, PhD, APRN, BC and

Dianna Hutto Douglas, DNS APRN-CNS

Human-to-Human Relationship Model Travelbee extended the interpersonal relationship theories of:

Peplau Orlando

Unique FocusWith emphasis on Caring Travelbee’s theory stresses:EmpathySympathyRapportThe Emotional Aspects of Nursing

Communication

Communication is the Vehicle through which

Nurse-Patient Relationships are

established.

The Relationship

A “mutually significant meaningful relationship” (p. 125) through which the nursing needs of the individual (or family member) are met (Travelbee, 1966)

Phases of the RelationshipOriginal EncounterEmerging IdentitiesEmpathySympathyRapport

EmpathyTo Travelbee Empathy is a verb, an action word that is:

the nurses most valuable method of communicating with patients ‘operationalzed’ by the nurse within the nurse-patient relationship

To empathize is to gain an intellectual understanding of the mental world and psychological state of another (Travelbee, 1966)

HOW:Empathetic receivers (of communication form others):

Listen to the messageUse own experiences to feel their way into the sender’s

experienceKnow their own thoughts about their experience Use their own thoughts and experiences to become sensitive to

the what the sender is telling themKnow which boundaries exist between their experiences and

thoughts and those of the senderMake a conscious choice to stay with the sender and help them to

bear their experience (Donna, 1979, p. 50)

Sympathy“…A process wherein an individual is able to comprehend the distress of another, be moved or touched by another’s distress, and desires to alleviate the cause. One ‘shares’ in the feelings of another and experiences compassion”.

(Travelbee, 1966, p. 146)

Rapport“The establishment of a nurse-patient

relationship, and the experience that is rapport is the terminus of all nursing endeavor. Rapport is that which is experienced when nurse and patent has progressed through the four interlocking phases preceding rapport and the establishment of a nurse-patient relationship, namely:1. The original encounter2. Emerging identities3. Empathy

4. Sympathy” (Travelbee, 1966, p. 155)

Travelbee’s View of NursingAn interpersonal process between two individuals One needs assistance because of an illnessThe other able to give needed assistance

The Goal of the assistance is to facilitate the individual to:

Cope with the illness situationFind meaning in the experienceGrow from the experience (Travelbee, 1966)

Domain Concepts of Travelbee’s Theory Defined

Nursing “An interpersonal process whereby the professional nurse… assists an

individual… to prevent or cope with… illness and suffering and… find meaning in these experiences” (Travelbee, 1966, pp. 5-6).

Person ...“a unique irreplaceable individual-a one-time being in the world-like yet

unlike any person who has ever lived or ever will live”(Travelbee, 1966, p. 26).

Health “…the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard… without distinction”

(Travelbee, 1966, p.7). “…an individually defined state of well-being in accord with self-appraisal of

physical-emotional-spiritual status” (Travelbee, 1971, p.9).

Environment Not defined

Other Major Concepts of Travelbee’s Theory

CommunicationNurse-Patient Relationship

Human-to-Human RelationshipTherapeutic SelfPerceptionSufferingHopeTranscend SelfSelf-Actualization

A Propositions of Travelbee’s Theory“The Nurse’s perception of the patient is a major factor in determining the quality and quantity of nursing care… rendered to each Patient” (Travelbee, 1966, p. 34).

A Proposition of Travelbee’s Theory“The quality of nursing care given is determined by the nurse’s beliefs about illness, suffering, and death” (Travelbee, 1966, p. 55).

A Proposition of

Travelbee’s Theory“The spiritual values… [and] philosophical beliefs [of nurses] about illness and suffering will determine the extent to which they will be able to help patients find meaning (or no meaning)in these situations” (Travelbee, 1966, p. 55).

Travelbee Life Influences

Education

Honors

Experience

Personal

Travelbee’s Education

Crossman School (Elementary) 1939

Joseph Kohn High School 1943

Charity Hospital School of Nursing

1946

LSU (B.S.N. Ed.) 1956

Yale University (M.S.N.) 1959

Doctoral program enrollment

(Florida, 1973)

Travelbee’s HonorsKappa Delta Pi

Who’s Who in American

Education

Leaders in Science Edition

Teacher of the Year

University of Mississippi SON

1968

Outstanding Alumna Award

Louisiana State University 1970

Travelbee’s ExperienceLSUMC SON Director of Graduate Education

1973

LSUMC SON 1971 – 1973

Hotel Dieu SON Project Director 1969 –

1971

University of Mississippi SON 1966-1969

New York University 1965-1966

LSU SON 1956-1965

Charity Hospital SON 1954-1956

De Paul Hospital Affiliate School 1952-1954

Travelbee Personal

Order of Diacalced

Carmelites Secular

Poetry

Order of Diacalced Carmelites16th Century Reform of

Carmalite Nuns

Reestablish Carmelite

Objectives & Disciplines

St. Teresa of Avila

St. John of the Cross

Known as Contemplative

Carmelites and later Discalced

Carmelites

Order of Diacalced Carmelites Secular

Pervasive Ideas

1. The Secular Rule of Life, Plan

for Spiritual Growth

2. Vocation & Mission

Evangelical Life & Contemplative

Prayer

Apostolic & Contemplative Witness

3. Contemplative Prayer

PoetryUplifting

SoundsNew OrleansThe Dreamer

SorrowMagnoliaThe wind is

White tonightSo?

Mental Health

Patients

Hurry

Inspiration

Sandra

Burnt Sienna

Untitled

ReferencesCatholic University of America (1967). Catholic

Encyclopedia. NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company.Donna, M.K., (1979). Intervention in psychiatric

nursing (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.

LSU Personnel Records (1971). Biographical Data

Form. New Orleans: LSU.Speziale, H.J. & Carpenter, D.R. (2007). Qualitative

Research in Nursing Advancing the Humanistic Imperative. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

Travelbee, J. (n.d.) Poetry. New Orleans. Travelbee, J. (1966). Interpersonal aspects of

nursing. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.Travelbee, J. (1971). Interpersonal aspects of

nursing (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.