Therapeutic relationship nurse–patient in hemodialysis therapy

INTRODUCTION: Building a therapeutic relationship aims to achieve therapeutic goals. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of the therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient in hemodialysis therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 77 patients with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) and on long‐term hemodialysis in one of Warsaw's dialysis centers. The diagnostic survey method was used with the questionnaire technique. A survey questionnaire developed by the author was used as the tool for the study. The analysis was carried out using StatSoft Statistica 13.1 PL statistical package and Microsoft Office. RESULTS: According to the respondents, the main elements of a therapeutic relationship are empathy (82%), mutual trust (68%), and respect (60%). 86% of patients believed that the nurse–patient relationship was important in renal replacement therapy, significantly less frequently with reference to patients aged 70 years and older (p < .05). Patients positively evaluated the nurse‐patient therapeutic relationship, indicating that it influences the sense of security, helps in coping with difficult moments, and increases the quality of medical care. CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of a therapeutic relationship with the patient should be the basic course of action of every nurse.