Application of Theory Paper and Reflection

Application of Peplau Interpersonal Relations Theory Student Name Institution Professor Name Course Date Application of Peplau Interpersonal Relations Theory Summary of Problem While caring for an elderly patient recently diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, I noticed she became withdrawn and refused to engage in conversations with me or her family. As her nurse, I was concerned about this abrupt change in her demeanor. She had initially been talkative and friendly when receiving her diagnosis but suddenly shut down emotionally. I suspected she may be experiencing shock, anger, or depression in response to her terminal prognosis. However, without open communication, I could not fully assess her mental health needs or encourage coping strategies. Peplau Interpersonal Relations Theory Hildegard Peplau (a psychiatric nurse by profession) was a well-known, first-generation mental health inventor. She was born in 1909 and died at 99 years. In 1943 - she earned her bachelor's in interpersonal psychology and her Masters in psychiatric nursing in 1947. Peplau's nursing career resulted in the growth of her belief that the connection between patients and nurses plays a central role in improving patient's health (Haber, 2000). It was the year 1952 when she was sharing ideas of interpersonal relationships. Peplau asserted that communication and patient care were the key rather than just a duty. The concept of Peplau was developed by humanistic psychology that focused on the therapeutic element aspect of nursing. According to Peplau, these relationships between the nurse and patient set a framework for healing and improving health (Deane & Fain, 2016). Nursing involves balancing the patient's state, which means the nurse should understand every aspect of the patient, such as emotions, experiences, and psychosocial needs. However, that balance can only be accomplished if nurses practice two-way communication, active listening, trust-building, and good rapport. Peplau pointed out that nursing is a social, creative affair where some set-in-stone rules do not script an individual’s actions but result from a careful interaction with the patient. However, nurses are supposed to work their ideas out to understand the patient’s attitudes. If necessary, nurses must answer with the stages of orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution (Deane & Fain, 2016). It is not enough to give patients physical therapy; they need a helper and counselor instead. With this therapeutic partnering, people are given a chance to muscle through difficult issues and term relationship goals through struggle and acceptance. Peplau turned a corner in the field of psychiatric nursing, and today's nursing practice still puts the once-neglected psychosocial elements bef...