Hildegard Peplau

A nursing theorist active from the 1950's, Dr. Peplau emphasized the nurse-client relationship as the foundation of nursing practice. At the time, her research and emphasis on the give-and-take of nurse-client relationships was quite novel. Peplau went on to form an interpersonal model emphasizing the need for a partnership between nurse and client as opposed to the client passively receiving treatment (and the nurse passively acting out doctor's orders).

The essence of Peplau's theories is the creation of a shared experience. Nurses, she thought, could facilitate this through observation, description, formulation, interpretation, validation, and intervention. For example, as the nurse listens to her client she develops a general impression of the client's situation. The nurse then validates her inferences by checking with the client for accuracy. The result may be experiential learning, improved coping strategies, and personal growth for both parties.

Peplau's model proved of great use to later nurse theorists and clinicians in developing more sophisticated and therapeutic nursing interventions.

Peplau's Six Nursing Roles illustrate the dynamic character roles typical to clinical nursing.

1. Stranger role: Receives the client the same way one meets a stranger in other life situations; provides an accepting climate that builds trust.

2. Resource role: Answers questions, interprets clinical treatment data, gives information.

3. Teaching role: Gives instructions and provides training; involves analysis and synthesis of the learner's experience.

4. Counseling role: Helps client understand and integrate the meaning of current life circumstances; provides guidance and encouragement to make changes.

5. Surrogate role: Helps client clarify domains of dependence, interdependence, and independence and acts on clients behalf as advocate.

6. Active leadership: Helps client assume maximum responsibility for meeting treatment goals in a mutually satisfying way.

Peplau's Developmental Stages of the Nurse-Client Relationship are rather self-evident.

1. Orientation phase
2. Working phase
3. Termination (resolution) phase