Reflecting on International Relationship-Based Care Symposium (by Kathrynn Thompson)

Relationship Based Care and the Art of Nursing

I have been passionate about the Art of Nursing my entire career. Cathleen Jenner (1997) in her article The Art of Nursing: a Concept Analysis in Nursing Forum defined the Art of Nursing “ as the intentional creative use of oneself, based upon knowledge and expertise, to transmit emotion and meaning to another. It is subjective and requires interpretation, sensitivity, imagination and active participation” on the part of the nurse. Understanding and appreciation of the patient is the result of the use of the Art of Nursing. Since nursing practice deals with the human responses of our patients (diagnosing and treating human responses) it is critical that nurses understand people. It is through the Art of Nursing that nurses can derive meaning and give expression to the human condition.

I was very excited when the James decided to adopt Relationship Based Care (RBC) as our practice model. RBC is based on the caring theories of Jean Watson and Kristen Swanson. This practice framework encourages, no requires, us to provide care within the context of relationships with our patients, our colleagues, the community and ourselves. I believe the ability to practice RBC flows from the Art of Nursing. Certainly deriving meaning and understanding the human condition requires the development of therapeutic relationships.

The Art of Nursing and the skills of developing therapeutic relationships are less concrete, less tangible, than the physical skills we practice as nurses and thus more challenging for many of us. We need to place emphasis on developing competencies in the skills of compassionate presence, unconditional positive regard, empathy, being nonjudgmental, assertive communication and connecting with the innate worth of our patients, colleagues and ourselves.