Nursing

Hildegard Peplau’s Theory and the Healthcare Encounters of Survivors of Sexual Violence Loleta Kellum Alcorn NU 505 Dr Young January22, 2013
Hildegard Peplau’s Theory and the Healthcare Encounters of Survivors of Sexual Violence
Hildegard Peplau’s Theory and the Healthcare Encounters of Survivors of Sexual ViolencJournal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2008 May: 14(2) 136 -138
In 1952, Peplau, a nurse theorist, introduced a theory of interpersonal relationships in nursing as a means to combat the harmful effects that sexual violence can exact on an individual who has suffered from the harm it may cause. As such, the article in question focused upon how sexual violence is a serious public health problem in all areas of the United States. In this way, Peplau’s theory views nurses as occupying helping roles (stranger, resource person, teacher, leadership, surrogate, counselor,) in the interactions that the patients engage in. Moreover, the analysis explores how victims of sexual violence react to their encounters with healthcare professionals. Paplau believed that the nurse relationship will lead to efficient nursing care promoting a greater outcome for the patient. In this article the health providers focus on these six attributes to help offer their patients a sense of understanding and comfort with respect to the terrible experience that they have encountered. As such, Paplau’s helping role was most important to survivors of sexual violence. These survivors were able to take information that the health providers gave them and focus their energies on how to live a normal life after their sexual assaults. As a nurse, we should use Paplau theory of helping to be more understanding and willing to be more helpful to our patients and our community within the different outreach programs it might offer.