The Quality of Nurses’ Relationships with Patients and Patients’ Significant Others in an Emergency Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study
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Date
2024-03-25
Authors
Anyebe, E.E.
Jibril, U.N.
Ibraheem, M.A.
Adesina, K.A.
Adenigba, O.B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria: Achievers Journal of Scientific Research
Abstract
Nurses, patients, and patients‟ relatives engage in continuous interaction in the hospital setting. Such interaction is expected to be supportive, educative, and therapeutic. The extent to which the nurse communicates with patients and their relatives should lead to transaction, goal attainment, effective nursing care, and satisfaction. Anchored on Peplau’s Interpersonal theory, this study explored the views of nurses, patients, and patients' relatives on the level of nurse-patient and nurse-patient relatives‟ relationships, and the level of satisfaction with the nursing care and its associated factors at an Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of a Teaching Hospital in North-Central Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, an in-depth interview guide was used to collect data from 17 purposively selected participants (seven nurses of different ranks, five patients, and one relative of each of these patients). Interviews were audio recorded. Following transcription, data were analyzed thematically. Levels and satisfaction with the nurse-patient relationship were rated differently: below average by the nurses, but relatively more satisfactory by most patients. However, both nurses and patients‟ relatives described the nurse-patient relatives‟ relationship as dissatisfactory, with its potential and actual effects on patient care. Communication barriers, poor interpersonal skills, poor nursing staff: ratio shortage and the nature of the Emergency Room are factors affecting the interpersonal relationship of nurses with patients and their relatives. Improved communication, nurse-patient ratio, quality of care, interpersonal relationship skills training for nurses, and orientation of patients and relatives are recommended to enhance therapeutic relationships.
Description
A Clinical Paper. The study is focused on the interpersonal and therapeutic relationship in the hospital setting - a sociological analysis of nurse-patient interaction, anchored on communication with patients and their relatives. The study highlights the levels, variants, and challenges of the nurse-patient relationship in the Emergency Room of a busy tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Working on the identified challenges are recommended to enhance therapeutic relationships.
Keywords
Interpersonal Communication, Emergency Department, Interpersonal Relationships, Nurse-Patient Relationship, Therapeutic Relationship
Citation
Anyebe, E.E, Jibril, U.N., Ibraheem, M.A., Adesina, K.A. and Adenigba, O.B. (2024) The Quality of Nurses’ Relationships with Patients and Patients’ Significant Others in an Emergency Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: A Qualitative Study; Achievers Journal of Scientific Research: 5(1): 1-19.