Hildahood: Taking the Interpersonal Theory of Nursing to the Neighborhood

Abstract

This article examines the use of problematic patterns of interpersonal interactions as an intervention focus that is based on the interpersonal theory of nursing developed by Hildegard Peplau. In previous articles, interpersonal change strategies have been suggested that focus on the patterns that emerge between the client and the nurse. This article proposes an elaboration of the technique by shifting the focus from the "virtual" interactions that occur in the laboratory of the therapeutic nurseclient relationship to the "real" relations between the clients and their significant others. Measurement of the effect of the intervention by the appearance, intensity, and persistence of changes in outcomes along the lines predicted by the theory are illustrated.