Nurses Role in Healthcare

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What is the role of a Nurse in healthcare?.

The Nurse's role in palliative care is about caring for the living and providing high-quality nursing care. Valuing the individual is the core element and relates to respecting the person and being non-judgemental. (Phil russel,p.295) It is difficult pin point the skills required to be a good nurse, but Saunders (1978) adds, its about 'being with' people when they are suffering.Most nurses are engaged in the use of counselling skills rather than in counselling, to avoid confusion the term 'therapeutic communication' will be used. (Burnard, 1995,p.346)

The social behaviours and proffessional interactions have core qualities. These qualities have been identified by Roger (1957) for playing a part in therapeutic alliance. Having an empathic understanding, being genuine and always have an unconditional acceptance. This approach has had a considerable influence on nursing because of the control it gives back to the clients, empowering them to make their own decisions and enabling their psychological growth. (p.346) The unconditional acceptance or unconditional regard is a misunderstood quality. (Phil Russel,p.348) As explained more by Mearns (1994) 'Don't confuse unconditional positive regard with liking'. A person may not like certain individuals, but in a position as a carer, it is not for them to judge. (p.348) To love others, we must first love ourselves (Fromm, 1975,p.349)

A nurse is to have empathic understanding to the client's feelings, a nurse must understand that their feelings may not be the same as other people in their care. (Rogers,1980,p.347) describes empathy as 'a way of being with another person, entering into their world, communicating their sensings'. Egan (1994) defines two types of empathy: 'primary empathy' involves listening to what the clients are saying and responding with an

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