title: Interpersonal relations in nursing: a philosophical-ethical analysis of the work of Hildegard E. Peplau.
abstract: Nursing typically has been viewed as a moral practice, for instance by new developments in the ethics of care. Nevertheless, many philosophical-ethical presuppositions of nursing theories remain to be clarified. This paper presents a philosophical-ethical analysis of the work of Hildegard E. Peplau. Analysis of the philosophical-ethical background of Peplau's works illuminates a view on nursing practice that is relevant today. Three main components are analysed more deeply, i.e. the professionalization of nursing, the philosophical underpinnings of Peplau's view on nursing science, and the nurse-patient relationship as the central event in nursing.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gastmans
mesh_terms: D004993:Ethics, Nursing / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000266:history; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing / Q000266:history*; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012586:Science / Q000266:history