Nursing Theories: Travelbee & Peplau

Joyce Travelbee

• Developed the Human-to-Human Relationship Theory
• Defined nursing as an interpersonal process where the nurse helps individuals, families, or communities to prevent or cope with illness and suffering
• Goal of nursing is to assist individuals, families, or communities to prevent or cope with illness and suffering and to find meaning in these experiences
• Travelbee believed that the patient's perception of illness is influenced by their spiritual values
• Nurses' philosophical beliefs about illness and suffering determine their ability to assist patients in finding meaning in their experiences
• Emphasized the importance of empathy and sympathy in developing a human-to-human relationship between the nurse and the patient
• Stressed the importance of caring, empathy, rapport, and the emotional aspects of nursing

Hildegard Peplau

• Known as “The Mother of Psychiatric Nursing" and "The Nurse of the Century"
• Well known for her Theory of Interpersonal Relations
• Described the nurse-patient relationship as a significant therapeutic interpersonal process
• Identified four psychobiological experiences that influence patient responses: needs, frustrations, conflicts, and anxieties
• Defined six nursing roles: Stranger, Resource Person, Teacher, Leader, Surrogate, and Counselor
• Emphasized the importance of the nurse's self-awareness and understanding of their own behavior to support patient growth

Virginia Henderson

• Defined nursing as assisting individuals, sick or well, in performing activities that contribute to health or recovery, or peaceful death
• Known as "The First Lady of Nursing” and “The Nightingale of Nursing”
• Her work was influenced by Edward L. Thorndike, her experiences with the Henry House Visiting Nurse Agency, rehabilitation nursing, and Orlando's concept of deliberate nursing action

Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations

• The four components are:
  • Person: a developing organism that strives to reduce anxiety caused by needs
  • Environment: consists of external forces outside of the person and influenced by culture
  • Health: implies forward movement of personality
  • Nursing: a significant therapeutic interpersonal process that functions cooperatively with another human process that makes health possible for individuals in communities
• Assumptions about the theory:
  • Nurse and patient can interact
  • Both the patient and nurse mature as a result of their therapeutic interaction
  • Communication and interviewing skills are fundamental nursing tools
  • Nurses must understand themselves to promote their clients' growth and avoid limiting their choices
• Influenced by Freud, Maslow, Sullivan, and the contemporaneous psychoanalytical model
• Focuses on the nurse-patient relationship and is a theory for nursing practice

Explore the fundamental nursing theories developed by Joyce Travelbee and Hildegard Peplau. This quiz delves into their concepts of interpersonal relationships, the importance of empathy, and the role of spiritual values in patient care. Test your understanding of how these theories shape nursing practices today.