Nurse-Patient Relationship, Article Review Example

The nurse-patient relationship is the primary point of service where healthcare meets the public. Thus, the importance of this dynamic is underscored here. Researchers have argued that the concept of trust is the cornerstone of the relationship between patient and nurse. Nevertheless, trust as a concept is not necessarily easily saleable and many researchers argue the true nature of phenomenon. Bell and Duffy (2009) have applied Rodgers’ (1989) framework for concept development to the problem.

They argued that more static definitions of trust do not sufficiently describe the concept nor are flexible enough to accurately frame the phenomenon of trust over time (2009). In their research, Bell and Duffy (2009) identified related concepts and conducted a review of relevant literature in an attempt to identify major features of the construct. Furthermore, they delineated some of the perceived causes and effects of trust (Bell & Duffy 2009). Finally, they applied what they learned to a case study to test the viability of their iteration of trust as a core nursing concept (Bell & Duffy 2009).

What they found was that trust as a nursing concept necessitated certain attributes (Bell & Duffy 2009). People expect nurses to be capable, and patients are dependent on the good will of others (Bell & Duffy 2009). As such, there is an element of risk for the patient when they are weak (Bell & Duffy 2009). Furthermore, past experiences on part of the patient with respect to healthcare as an industry weigh heavily into the individual formulation of trust (Bell & Duffy 2009). Understanding of trust will augment further research and practice (Bell & Duffy 2009). The case study illustrated these elements of trust in such a way as to demonstrate the need to healthcare of administration and education. (Bell & Duffy 2009).

Reference

Bell, L. & Duffy, A. (2009). A concept analysis of nurse–patient trust. British Journal of Nursing, 18(1): 46-51.

Rodgers, B. L. (1989). Concepts, analysis and the development of nursing knowledge: the evolutionary cycle. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14(4): 330–335.