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The future of the Theory of Interpersonal Relations? A personal reflection on Peplau's legacy
Author(s) -
Phil Barker
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2850.1998.00128.x
Subject(s) - interpersonal communication , interpersonal relationship , psychology , psychotherapist , nursing theory , nursing , medline , medicine , social psychology , political science , law
The work of Hildegard Peplau represents the most significant influence, worldwide, on the development of psychiatric nursing practice. Her use of the Theory of Interpersonal Relations created the basis for defining the potential significance of the psychiatric nurse's role as a therapeutic agent. Forty years later she has indicated the means by which nurses might sharpen their focus on the person often overshadowed by the ‘patient’ label. Peplau's writings have, over this 40‐year period, helped clarify the broad range of roles required of the nurse in general and in particular, within psychotherapeutic nursing.