Balancing the Inpatient-Nurse Relationship in Anorexia Care

Abstract

Background: Nurses play a central role in the treatment of inpatients with anorexia, where bonding is a key factor. The inpatient-nurse relationship is based on a confident alliance characterized by important factors such as trust, confidentiality, responsiveness, genuineness, and consistency. Aim and Research Question: The aim of this study was to describe patients’ in-depth experiences of their relationship with nurses when hospitalized for anorexia. The research question was: How do women hospitalized due to anorexia nervosa experience the nurse-patient relationship? Method: A hermeneutic approach with in-depth interviews was employed. Five women with previous experience of inpatient care for anorexia were interviewed. Findings: The findings summarized how the women experienced the relationship with professional nurses in a ward characterized by a high degree of structure. The main theme Balancing feelings of emotional contradictions in the patient-nurse relationship was described by two sub-themes; Opening up for a care relationship in a rigid and structured ward atmosphere and Fluctuating in a paradox of conflicting feelings. Discussion: From the patients’ perspective, balancing the patient-nurse relationship when an inpatient involves conflicting emotional challenges. Structured interventions are perceived as effective by the patients, although they may be ambivalent about them. Therefore, a good relationship depends on the establishment of emotional and stable interaction with the nurses. Implications for Nursing Practice: Patients need interventions based on safe and competent quality care. A hermeneutic approach may improve the nurses’ ability to meet these patients in their lifeworld and establish a confident relationship. Special education related to anorexia care should be a priority in nursing.