Nurse-patient interaction: a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this paper are to review a theoretical model useful for developing nursing knowledge related to nurse-patient interaction, review the literature on nurse-patient interaction, and discuss areas for further research. THEORETICAL MODEL: Goffman's theory of face work.


RESULTS
Nurse-patient interaction is a central element of clinical nursing practice. This paper shows how Goffman's model can be used as a theoretical framework for understanding nurse-patient communication.


CONCLUSIONS
Issues such as power, the social and cultural context, and interpersonal competence are shown to be important in the quality of nurse-patient interactions and nurses need to take cognizance of these factors in their interactions with patients.
School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. shattell@uab.edu
Mona
M
Shattell
D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012938:Social Perception