Caring is communicated interpersonally, thus the vehicle for communicating a caring intent is the nurse-client relationship. The nurse-client relationship is the one-to-one interactive process between client and nurse that is directed at improving the client’s health status or assisting in problem solving. The primary goal of the relationship is the client’s achievement of therapeutic outcomes. The nurse-client relationship is a planned process that focuses on meeting the needs of the client. There are many differences between the therapeutic nurse-client relationship and a social relationship. The interactive process between client and nurse greatly influences the client’s progress in healing. Peplau (1952), the first nurse theorist to define nursing as an interpersonal process, viewed the nurse-client relationship as the basis of nursing. Interpersonal skills are the foundation for establishing the therapeutic relationship. Only through interacting does the nurse have the ability to adequately assess the client’s needs, teach methods for best meeting those needs, empower the client to achieve goals, and evaluate the outcome of nursing interventions.
