Nursing Theory: Peplaus Interpersonal Relations in Nursing

James Vanderbilt, RN California State University, Dominguez Hills Division of Nursing July 18, 2011

Clinical Example
Considering the process of Patient Discharges with the Context of Peplaus Theory
Factors impacting the effectiveness of patient teaching also include the nurses concurrent workload at the time of discharge (Weiss, Yakusheva, & Bobay, 2011). Writing from our own experience, nurses face an enormous challenge in caring for 4-5 other patients while trying to give effective discharge teaching to patients facing their own stresses.

Values & Assumptions

Peplau's Interpersonel Relations in Nursing Theory
Values There exists a desire in developing problem solving skills within the context of the interpersonal relationship between nurse and client.(Nursing Theorists, 2008). Using education and therapeutic interaction Assumption Both nurse & patient seek an interpersonal relationship The patient is able to participate in an interpersonal relationship The patient has a felt need The interpersonal relationship will enhance self-maturity and/or selffulfillment (Nursing Theorists, 2008).
3

Empiricist Influence
Example of empiricist paradigm influence on Peplau
In Empiricism seeks "predictable, linear" results that are more appropriate for laboratory-like research (Nursing Theorists, 2008). Empiricism seeks the absolute truth that most often possible when only one variable exists (Monti & Tingen, 2009). Identified four predictable sequential phases in the interpersonal relationship: 1. Orientation 2. Identification 3. Exploitation 4. Resolution Theories must be logical in nature. This theory provides a logical systematic (Nursing Theorists, 2008).

Interpretive Influence
Example of interpretive paradigm influence on Peplau
Her book she discussed the phases of interpersonal process, roles in nursing situations and methods for studying nursing as an interpersonal process. (Nursing Theorists, 2008).
The ontology of the interpretive model acknowledges multiple and composite realities and that meaning is grounded in experience. These perspectives do not factor into a rigid positivism perspective where the reality is

independent of context (Nursing Theorists, 2008). The interpretive paradigm takes into account many other factors that impact a patients readiness to learn which might be overlooked if the empiricism model were applied instead (Monti & Tingen, 2009). A number of behavior factors that account for disparity add a level of unpredictability that the interpretative paradigms embrace and the empiricism
paradigm models ignore (Monti & Tingen, 2009).

References
Maloney, L. R., & Weiss, M.E. (2009, April). A review of discharge planning research of older adults 1990-2008. Clinical Nursing Research. 31(3), 923-947. Monti, E.J., & Tingen, M. S. (2009). Multiple paradigms of nursing science. In A.M. Barker (Ed.). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession. (pp. 433-449). Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett. Nursing Theorists (2008). Theory of interpersonal relations. Retrieved on July 17, 2011, from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/interpersonal_theory.htm Weiss , M. E., Yakusheva, O., & Bobay, K. (2011). Quality and cost analysis of nurse staffing, discharge preparation, and postdischarge utilization. Retrieved from http://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/viewSupportDoc.cfm?supportingDocID=1010