Relational Ethics and Nurses-Client Relationship in Nursing Practice: Literature Review

Authors: Upasen R

DOI: 10.23880/mhrij-16000102

Volume 1, Issue 1

Abstract

Background: This review focuses on exploring the concept of the nurse-client relationship as it may be informed by<br />relational ethics. Relational ethics is a new approach to ethical practice in health care and can be a framework for nurses<br />and other health professionals in considering how to help patients and families.<br />Purpose: To review the basic elements of relational ethics prior to summarizing the existing literature related to the<br />nurse-client relationship in psychiatric and mental health settings.<br />Methods: Qualitative studies and other research were identified by using the PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Academic<br />search databases, and by hand search in the library. The search limited to the period 2000-2016. The exception to this is<br />the inclusions of some articles that are considered as classic in this area of nurse-client relationship and ethics.<br />Results: 45 studies that met the final inclusion criteria were selected to analyze theme. The argument is then made that<br />relational ethics can inform therapeutic nurse-client relations in important ways and that it constitutes important<br />knowledge for psychiatric and mental health nurses. The existing literature, however, does not identify strategies that<br />support the practice of relational ethics in this way. This article described how relational ethics is a powerful guide to<br />ethical and effective nursing practice.<br />Conclusion and Recommendation: There is a growing need to better understand relational ethics within the nurseclient<br />relationship in order to identify ways to support encountered situations

Keywords: Relational Ethics; Ethics; Mental Health; Nursing Practice; Relationship; Therapeutic

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