MRU Wk 10 Relevance of Peplaus Surrogate Role Theory in Nursing Practice Responses – Description
Response to 2 students
by Kenia Rojas Gongora – Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 6:43 AMNumber of replies: 0
In this week we will continue analysing the influence that nursing models and theories have upon research and practice.
In nursing, effective communication plays a crucial role in building therapeutic relationships with patients. A notable nursing theorist, Hildegard Peplau, emphasized the importance of the surrogate role in nursing practice. This essay will explore Peplau’s definition of the surrogate role and its continuing relevance in modern healthcare.
Peplau’s Definition of the Surrogate Role:
According to Peplau, the surrogate role refers to a key function of the nurse in which they temporarily assume the role of a significant person in the patient’s life. It involves active engagement and effective communication to provide emotional support, understanding, and guidance in times of vulnerability or uncertainty. The nurse acts as a substitute for family members or friends, offering solace and empathy to the patient.
Relevance of the Surrogate Role Today:
1. Emotional Support: One crucial aspect of the surrogate role in nursing practice is providing emotional support to patients. In today’s healthcare system, where patients often face time constraints and fragmented care, nurses can still bridge the gap by being present and attentive. By empathetically addressing patients’ emotional needs, nurses can alleviate anxiety, improve patient satisfaction, and enhance the overall healthcare experience.
2. Facilitating Therapeutic Relationships: The surrogate role encourages the development of strong therapeutic relationships between nurses and patients. By engaging in active listening, nurses gain a deeper understanding of patients’ concerns, fears, and needs. This connection fosters trust, which is essential for patients to actively participate in their own care and make informed decisions. Moreover, a therapeutic relationship grounded in the surrogate role can improve patient outcomes by facilitating effective communication between healthcare providers.
3. Patient-Centered Care: The surrogate role aligns with the principles of patient-centered care, which has gained prominence in modern healthcare. It emphasizes individualized care that takes into account patients’ unique circumstances and values. By assuming the surrogate role, nurses can advocate for patients’ preferences, ensure their voices are heard, and actively involve them in their care plans. This approach empowers patients, improves treatment adherence, and leads to better health outcomes.
4. Bridging Cultural and Language Barriers: In today’s diverse healthcare settings, nurses are often confronted with patients from different cultural backgrounds and linguistic abilities. The surrogate role serves as an essential tool to bridge these barriers. By demonstrating cultural sensitivity, nurses can develop rapport, create a safe space for communication, and promote patient-centered care. By acting as cultural brokers, nurses facilitate the exchange of information, ensuring accurate understanding and avoiding misunderstandings that may lead to suboptimal care.
The surrogate role, as defined by Peplau, remains highly relevant in contemporary nursing practice. By providing emotional support, fostering therapeutic relationships, promoting patient-centered care, and bridging cultural barriers, nurses can improve patient experiences and outcomes. Acknowledging the significance of the surrogate role in nursing practice enables nurses to deliver holistic care, addressing not only patients’ physical needs but also their emotional and psychological well-being. By embodying this role, nurses continue to play a crucial role in guiding patients through their healthcare journeys.
References:
1. Peplau, H. E. (1997). Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations. Nursing Science Quarterly, 10(4), 162-167.
2. Meadows, R. M. (2009). Therapeutic nursing: Improving patient care through self-awareness and reflection. JAAPA: Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 22(8), 48-52.by
Elvis Li – Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 11:46 PM
Number of replies: 0
In this week’s discussion post, I will meet the student learning outcome of examining the influence that nursing models and theories have upon research and practice, specifically the relevancy of Peplau’s definition of the surrogate role in nursing practice. In the dynamic field of nursing, theories, and frameworks help shape the way healthcare professionals interact with patients. One of these influential theories includes Peplau’s Surrogate Role theory, which emphasizes the significance of the nurse-patient relationship in facilitating optimal healthcare outcomes. Peplau’s Surrogate Role refers to the nurse’s ability to assume a therapeutic role, acting as a surrogate or substitute for the patient’s significant others in the healthcare setting. By incorporating this theory into the clinical environment, nurses have the opportunity to take on the crucial roles of stranger, resource, teacher, leader, surrogate, and counselor within the nurse-patient relationship (Wasaya et. al, 2021).
Nurses are vital members of a patient’s healthcare team as they bridge the gap between patients and patient-centered healthcare due to their comprehensive medical background as well as their major role as patient advocates. Peplau’s surrogate role of a nurse involves establishing a supportive and empathetic relationship with patients, thus promoting their overall well-being. It emphasizes the nurse’s responsibility to place the patient at the center of care, identifying their unique needs, preferences, and values. By establishing a trusting relationship, nurses can garner a better understanding and address the individualized needs of each patient, ensuring that their care aligns with their values and goals (Wasaya et. al, 2021). This approach leads to improved patient satisfaction, engagement, and compliance with treatment plans. Specifically, in mental health nursing, the Surrogate Role plays an integral role in building trust and rapport with patients experiencing psychological distress. By establishing a therapeutic alliance, nurses can provide emotional support, validate patients’ experiences, and optimize their recovery (Daneau et. al, 2020). This approach exhibits a sense of surrogacy as it fosters a sense of safety and facilitates the implementation of effective interventions to promote overall health.
As the role of nursing continues to evolve, Peplau’s Surrogate Role remains a relevant and valuable framework for contemporary nursing care. Similarly to other nursing theories and frameworks, the Surrogate Role theory can be utilized as a guiding principle for nurses, emphasizing the importance of establishing meaningful connections with patients. By embracing this role, nurses enhance patient-centered care, facilitate therapeutic communication, and foster holistic patient assessment. The role of the nurse as a surrogate will continue to gain importance, and ongoing efforts in research should be made to integrate its principles into evolving healthcare practices.
References
Daneau, S., Bourbonnais, A., & Legault, A. (2020). Surrogates’ end?of?life decision?making process in nursing homes for residents with a neurocognitive disorder: An integrative review. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 15(1), e12274–n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12274
Wasaya, F., Shah, Q., Shaheen, A., & Carroll, K. (2021). Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations: A Case Study. Nursing Science Quarterly, 34(4), 368–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184211031573
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