Hildegrad Peplau

Hildegard PeplauBy Jennifer Lamb & Tanna Meadows

HistoryHildegard Peplau was born in 1909 in Reading Pennsylvania (Hildegard, 2013).She graduated from nursing school in 1931 (Hildegard, 2013).

History (cont)Peplau worked as an operating room supervisor initially and later in a neuropsychiatric hospital, Chestnut Lodge (Hildegard, 2013).

She has a B.A. in interpersonal psychology, an M.A. in psychiatric nursing, and an Ed.D in curriculum development (Hildegard, 2013).

TheoryFirst to present a theory since Florence Nightingale (Masters, 2014).She developed a theory that viewed the patient as a colleague in the nursing process and not as a task (Masters, 2014). Her theory became crucial to psychiatric nursing (Hildegard, n.d.).

Theory (cont)Created the theory of Interpersonal Relations in 1952 (Masters, 2014)

Four Phases of Nurse-Patient RelationshipOrientations phaseIdentification phaseExploitation investigation phaseResolution phase (Masters, 2014)

Orientation phaseHealth problem identified and professional assistance needed (Masters, 2014). Problem defining phase Starts when client meets nurse as a stranger

Identification PhasePatient identifies individuals that can help, and the nurse allows continued investigation of patients feelings (Masters, 2014). Nurse helps patient identify new goals and how to achieve them (Masters, 2014).

Exploitation Phase Uses professional assistance for problem-solving alternatives (Hidegard, 2013). The advantages of the professional services are based on the needs of the patient (Hildegard, 2013). Implementation of the nursing plan and taking actions toward meeting the goals (Masters, 2014).

Resolution PhasePatient identifies new goals and begins to separate from the nurse (Masters, 2014). The client no longer needs the professional service and the relationship ends.

SubConcepts of the Nurse in the Therapeutic RelationshipThe primary roles she identified are:

StrangerResource personTeacherLeaderSurrogateCounselor

Weaknesses of Peplaus TheoryHealth promotion and maintenance were less emphasized.

The theory cannot be used in a patient who doesnt have a felt need, such as with a patient who may be withdrawn.

Strengths of Peplaus TheoryThe phases provide simplicity regarding the natural progression of the nurse-patient relationship (Peplau, 1989).

This simplicity leads to adaptability in any nurse-patient interaction. (Peplau, 1989).

Conclusion Peplaus theory conceptualized clear sets of nurses roles that could be used by each and every nurse in their practice. The phases of the therapeutic nurse-client are highly comparable to the nursing process.

Nursing Theory Peplau TheoryAssessment Orientation

Diagnosis and Planning Identification

Implementation Exploitation

Evaluation Resolution In Closing. Somewhere, somehow, at some time in the past, courageous nurses determined these skills, learned them, fought for the right to use them, refined them, and taught them to other nurses. All nurses have an obligation to remember that part of nursings past, and to keep their own skills in pace with no opportunities for nursing into the next century . (Peplau, 1989, p.32)

Hildegard Peplau

ReferencesHildegard Peplau Nursing Theorist Homepage. Retrieved from http://publish.uwo.ca/~cforchuk/peplau/peplau.htmlHildegard Peplau Theory. (2013). Retrived from http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/peplau-theory-of-interpersonal-relations.phpPeplau, H.E. (1989). Pyschiatric times: tomorrows world. Nursing Journal 83 (4). 29-32.Masters, K. (2014). Nursing Practice. Role Development in Professional Nursing Practice. pp. 69-70.