Interpersonal relations while caring for the elderly: Nurses' perspective

Abstract

The interpersonal relationship is an important aspect of patient care, especially in the elderly who are on individualized and long-term care. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of the nurses in attaining interpersonal relations while the elderly in residential home care and nursing homes. Zambia has no established home nursing services and the elderly nursing homes are not part of the health care system, as nurses coming from this background it was very interesting to observe how nurses and the elderly clients interacted. The study was guided by two theoretical foundations from the Peplau‟s Interpersonal Relations and Giddens‟ Pure relationship. The relevance of the theories to this study was based on their tenets that related to the interpersonal relationships.

Methodology: Qualitative study research design was used, while interviews were conducted using a semi structured interview schedule to collect data and analysed using content analysis. A study sample of six nurses was selected using convenient sampling made up of three nurses each from nursing home and residential home care.

Results: The study revealed that nurses initiated a meeting with patients and their family members in creating interpersonal relationship. The nurses had a good connection with their family member and in turn nurses created good contacts with patients in nursing home and residential care. The study revealed that all respondents indicated that respect was important in creating a good nurse-patient relationship. Further, the study revealed that nurses had a challenge in communicating effectively with patients with psychiatric and dementia condition.

Conclusion: Interpersonal relations among nurses and the elderly in residential homes and nursing homes are enhanced by the common shared culture with the patient. Interpersonal relations among nurse and patient are influenced to some extent by the Norwegian culture. The format of creation and maintaining of the nurse-patient relationship may follow prescribed standards however there is an aspect that the nurse brings to the relationship that gives it uniqueness. The nurses‟ experiences provide insight on how respect is a vital aspect that will foster a viable and functional relationship with the patient.