Nursing 1112 - Module 1

Nursing as a Helping Relationship

And remember every nurse should be one who is to be depended upon, in

other words, capable of being a “confidential” nurse.
Florence Nightingale (1860, p. 125)

Specific Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module students should be able to:
▪ Identify attributes of a nurse that contribute to the development of effective helping
relationships
▪ Describe theories of caring
▪ Describe phases of a helping relationship
▪ Describe communication approaches that facilitate the building of a helping relationship
▪ Describe elements that contribute towards communicating a professional identity

In the lab session students will have the opportunity to:

▪ Apply principles of caring to interactions with peers
▪ Explore ways in which to initiate and build trust in a helping relationship in interactions
with peers
▪ Apply communication approaches in simulated interactions with peers
▪ Explore what it means to demonstrate a professional character

Preparation

Readings
Potter, P. A, Perry, A. G., Ross-Kerr, J. C., Wood, M. J., Astle, B. & Duggleby, W.
(Eds.). (2014). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (5th ed). Toronto, Canada:
Elsevier.
● Chapter 17, pp. 248-251, 254-259
● Chapter 18, pp. 262-271
D’Amico, D., Barbarito, C., Twomey, C. & Harder, N. (2012). Health & physical
assessment in nursing. (1st Canadian ed.). Toronto, Canada: Pearson, Canada.

Developed by: Mary Ann Wiebe Spring 2007 Helping Relationship 1

Revised Fall 2017
 ● Chapter 2, pp. 23, 25-26, 30-31

Web Resources
None
Videos/DVDs
None

As you complete the readings answer the following:

Professional Helping Relationships

1. Describe key elements of nurses’ professional relationships:

a. Nurse-patient c. Interprofessional team
b. Nurse-family d. Nurse-community
2. Describe the tasks of each phase of the helping relationship:
a. Preinteraction c. Working
b. Orientation d. Termination

3. Describe each of the following ways in which nurses communicate professionalism in

helping relationships.
a. Courtesy d. Autonomy & responsibility
b. Use of names e. Assertiveness
c. Trustworthiness

4. Describe the following therapeutic communication approaches and how the nurse
would use each in building a relationship with a client.
a. Active listening (SOLER) g. Using touch
b. Sharing observations h. Using silence
c. Sharing empathy i. Providing information
d. Sharing hope j. Clarifying
e. Sharing humour k. Focusing
f. Sharing feelings l. Paraphrasing
Developed by: Mary Ann Wiebe Spring 2007 Helping Relationship 2
Revised Fall 2017
 m. Asking relevant questions o. Self-disclosure
n. Summarizing p. Confrontation

5. Describe the following non-therapeutic communication approaches and why the nurse
should avoid these.
a. Asking personal questions g. Asking for explanations
b. Giving personal opinions h. Approval or disapproval
c. Changing the subject i. Defensive responses
d. Automatic responses j. Passive or aggressive
e. False reassurance responses
f. Sympathy k. Arguing
6. Describe approaches the nurse can use in communicating with patients how have
special needs:
a. Aphasia, dysarthria, muteness d. Visually impaired
b. Cognitively impaired e. Unresponsive
c. Hearing impaired f. Non-English speaking

Caring

1. Describe Swanson’s Theory of Caring:

a. Knowing d. Enabling
b. Being with e. Maintaining belief
c. Doing for

2. Describe Roach’s Human Act of Caring:

a. Compassion d. Conscience
b. Competence e. Commitment
c. Confidence

3. How do patients perceive caring?

Developed by: Mary Ann Wiebe Spring 2007 Helping Relationship 3

Revised Fall 2017
 4. Give an example of how each of the following nursing practices might convey
caring to a patient/client:
a. Providing presence d. Knowing the patient
b. Touch e. Spiritual caring
c. Listening f. Family care

Health Promotion

1. What is the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health promotion?

2. Describe the following health promotion activities that nurses engage in:
a. Social justice and health equity
b. Advocacy and activism
c. Addressing root causes

3. Define:
a. primary prevention
b. secondary prevention
c. tertiary prevention

Lab Activities/Supplies

Bring the following supplies to lab:

● pen & paper
● Course Syllabus and Student Learning Guide
● Course Outline

Developed by: Mary Ann Wiebe Spring 2007 Helping Relationship 4

Revised Fall 2017
 Post – Lab Reflection
Observe people in various settings and notice if, and how, they communicate
professionalism. What contributed to a sense of professionalism? What detracted from a
sense of professionalism? How do you communicate professionalism to your peers?

Reference

(1969). Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not by Florence Nightingale (1860). New
York: Dover Publications.

Developed by: Mary Ann Wiebe Spring 2007 Helping Relationship 5

Revised Fall 2017