EVANGELISTA, Gabrielle Angela B.

NCMP117 – RLE
Assignment #1: Self-Awareness

Kindly answer the following questions:

1) What is Self-awareness? Therapeutic relationship?

a. Self-awareness

• Self-awareness is the process by which the nurse gains recognition of his or her own
feelings, beliefs, and attitudes.
• Self-awareness involves being aware of different aspects of the self, including traits,
behaviors, and feelings.

b. Therapeutic Relationship

• A therapeutic relationship is defined as “an interactive relationship with a patient and

family that is caring, clear, positive, and professional.
• The ongoing relationship between a therapist and a client/patient established to
support the client’s/patient’s therapeutic goals. A therapeutic relationship is one of
service and is a helpful resource for the client/patient. Characteristics of a healthy
therapeutic relationship include personal awareness and insight, trust, respect, safety,
authenticity, acceptance, empathy, and collaborative agreement.

2) Why is self-awareness vital or necessary before any therapeutic relationship with a client?

• Being self-aware enables us to identify our strengths and also those areas that can be
developed. If we do not know our good and bad points, then we are less likely to be able
to help others.

• By developing self-awareness and beginning to understand his or her attitudes, the nurse
can begin to use aspects of his or her personality, experiences, values, feelings,
intelligence, needs, coping skills, and perceptions to establish relationships with clients
.
3) Identify the different components of a therapeutic relationship. Briefly discuss each.
• Trust

The nurse–client relationship requires trust. Trust builds when the client is confident in the
nurse and when the nurse’s presence conveys integrity and reliability. Trust develops when the
client believes that the nurse will be consistent in his or her words and actions and can be relied
on to do what he or she says.

• Genuine Interest
 When the nurse is comfortable with him or herself, aware of his or her strengths and
limitations, and clearly focused, the client perceives a genuine person showing genuine interest. A
client with mental illness can detect when someone is exhibiting dishonest or artificial behavior,
such as asking a question and then not waiting for the answer, talking over him or her, or assuring
him or her everything will be alright. The nurse should be open and honest and display congruent
behavior.

• Empathy

Empathy is the ability of the nurse to perceive the meanings and feelings of the client and to
communicate that understanding to the client. It is considered one of the essential skills a nurse
must develop to provide high-quality, compassionate care.

• Acceptance

The nurse who does not become upset or responds negatively to a client’s outbursts, anger, or
acting out conveys acceptance to the client. Avoiding judgments of the person, no matter what the
behavior, is acceptance. This does not mean acceptance of inappropriate behavior but acceptance
of the person as worthy.

• Positive Regard

The nurse who appreciates the client as a unique worthwhile human being can respect the
client regardless of his or her behavior, background, or lifestyle. This unconditional
nonjudgmental attitude is known as positive regard and implies respect. Calling the client by
name, spending time with the client, and listening and responding openly are measures by which
the nurse conveys respect and positive regard to the client.

• Self-Awareness and Therapeutic Use of Self

Before he or she can begin to understand clients, the nurse must first know him or herself.
Self-awareness is the process of developing an understanding of one’s own values, beliefs,
thoughts, feelings, attitudes, motivations, prejudices, strengths, and limitations and how these
qualities affect others. It allows the nurse to observe, pay attention to, and understand the subtle
responses and reactions of clients when interacting with them.

4) If you are a psyche nurse, what could be your important tools for a successful therapeutic
relationship?
• Acknowledge the individual:

− Meet them as an equal

− Validate their experiences

− Individualizing treatment
• Giving of self with regards to time and energy inside and outside the patient interactions
themselves

• Using the body as a pivot point:

− Clarify physical problems and solutions

− Facilitate the patient’s connection to their body

− Bridge the gap through therapeutic communication