Defining nursing as a healing art, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations incorporates the key principles of a patient-centered approach and the significance of communication in the nursing process. Moreover, Peplau makes it obvious that the communication process must be facilitated with the help of the latest technological tools so that the provision of the corresponding services should be as efficient and expeditious as possible. Aligning with the key principles of Aurora University nursing and promoting self-directed learning among both nurses and patients, the specified theoretical framework must be used as the basis for 21st-century nursing.
Also referred to as the Psychodynamic Theory (Delaney & Ferguson, 2014), Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations facilitates the adoption of a patient-centered approach and, therefore, can be considered a perfect framework for a nursing specialist to base their nursing practice on.
The specified theory, in fact, complies with the key principles of the Aurora University concept of nursing. Based on the ideas concerning the significance of emphasizing the communication between the patient and the nurse, the principles that the Aurora University is guided by and the basic tenets of Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations have a lot in common.
Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the specified theory is traditionally related to the concept of communication and media rather than nursing. In other words, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations promotes a new means of communication in the area of nursing, i.e., communication-based on the integration of modern media tools into the nursing process. As the use of modern information technology allows for faster access to the information concerning the patient and their health record, the significance of Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations in nursing must be viewed as tremendous.
Looking at the Theory of Interpersonal Relations suggested by Peplau closer, one must admit that some of its elements still differ from the basic principles of Aurora University in a rather drastic way. For example, the theory as it was originally designed obviously bears a slightly generic air around it. More to the point, in its nature, the theory is supposed to address the issues related to communication and is not traditionally associated with nursing. Instead, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations is used widely in the realm of information technologies and modern media, especially in the course of a computer-mediated conversation: “In her 1997 update of Interpersonal Relations Theory, Peplau’s model to CMC may therefore seem inappropriate or impossible. In her 1997 update of Interpersonal Relations Theory, Peplau recognized the far-reaching consequences of the technological transformation that is now occurring” (Hrabe, 2005, p. 404).
Nevertheless, in the light of the fact that Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations creates the premises for the reinvention of nursing and the definition of a patient-centered approach as its further course, some of the inconsistencies between the two can be overlooked. The theory is still applicable to nursing, since it helps establish a connection between the nurse and the patient, thus, contributing to a better understanding of the problem that the patient has, as well as the progress that has been made and the individual characteristics of the patient that set specific expectations for the therapy ort the intervention to be.
In addition, the fact that the Aurora University considers the provision of patient-centered nursing services in case of an emergency complies with the postulates of Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations (Senn, 2013). According to the existing researches, the theory is perfectly applicable to the instances of a nursing emergency, as its core principles pertain to the issue of orientation and, therefore, allow a nurse to define the problem fast and locate the adequate tools for addressing the issue in question (Senn, 2013, p. 32). Identified as the phase one, the above-mentioned stage may also be viewed as the process of creating the premises for delivering basic nursing services.
In addition to being a perfect tool for designing nursing interventions with, the their in question also aligns with the principles of commitment to human dignity; indeed, the principles such as the significance of the patient’s consent (Aurora University, 2015), though serving a range of purposes, are primarily aimed at helping the patient retain their sense of dignity in the course of retrieving the required nursing services.
Moreover, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations provides a rather decent platform for acquiring further knowledge about the phenomenon of nursing, the skills that a nursing specialist must have, the information that the latter needs to pay special attention to when tending to the needs of the patients, etc. In a way, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations can be viewed as the means for a nursing specialist to propel themselves to the area of self-directed learning (Senn, 2013). Which is even more important, the theory enables nurses to encourage patients for the acquisition of the knowledge on their health issues, therefore, increasing the survival rates among the patients and allowing people to prevent the development of diseases and disorders.
The choice of Peplau as the theorist, whose theory is worth viewing as the tool for improving the nursing system and taking the communication with the patient to an entirely new level, therefore, is fully justified. Not only does the theory suggested by the author corresponds to the key principles of the Aurora University in terms of nursing ethics and standards, but also points at the possibilities for improving the communication process between the patient and the nurse, thus, making an efficient use of modern technology (Penckofer, Byrn, Mumby & Estwing Ferrans, 2011). The choice of the aforementioned approach was, therefore, predetermined by the specific way, in which it views the role of a nurse and the process of communication between a nurse and a patient. Modern nursing needs a more accurate representation of the issues that patients experience in order to improve the quality of the services provide.
While often related to information technology rather than nursing, Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations provides a perfect foil for improving the current nursing system. A stronger emphasis on the patient and the tools for an improved communication process between the patient and the nurse makes the theory especially topical in the age of information technology. By utilizing the postulates of Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations in nursing, one will be capable of leading nursing specialists to a better understanding of human behavior in general and the behavior in specific circumstances (e.g., the development of a certain disorder or disease) in particular. An innovator of communication process between the patient and the nurse, Peplau is one of the scholars, whose views on patient care models deserves to be incorporated into the nursing strategies more often.
Reference List
Aurora University. (2015). Learning outcomes – nursing. Aurora University. Web.
Delaney, K. R. & Ferguson, J. (2014). Peplau and the brain: Why Interpersonal Neuroscience provides a useful language for the relationship process. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 4(8), 145–152.
Hrabe, D. P. (2005). Peplau in cyberspace: An analysis of Peplau’s interpersonal relations theory and computer-mediated communication. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 26(4), 397–414.
Penckofer, S., Byrn, M., Mumby, P. & Estwing Ferrans, C. (2011). Improving subject recruitment, retention, and participation in research through Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations. Nursing Science Quarterly, 24(2), 146–151.
Senn, J. F. (2013). Peplau’s Theory of interpersonal relations: Application in emergency and rural nursing. Nursing Science Quarterly, 26(1), 31 –35