Narrative In Nursing Paper

Narrative in nursing is important in developing a relationship between the nurse and the client. The impression the nurse makes in the initial meeting is important in the progression of the relationship between the nurse and the client. When the client is encouraged to openly express their condition with the nurse, the client is more likely in the future to express his/her developing fears, symptoms, and hopes with his/her nurse. Clients are less likely to disclose his/her symptoms or nature of their health issues when the nurse shows little interest or are rushing the assessment (Potter & Perry, 2014). When the client is able to openly express the story of their condition it gives the patient a sense of comfort, and individuality. Allowing the client to express their

narrative is an empathetic act and a vital element of therapeutic nursing (Charon, 2001).

The qualities of client expression build the therapeutic relationship of listening and understanding the unique circumstances of the particular client, as the nurse is a witness to the clients sufferings and triumphs in their unique journey of health and wellness (Greenhalgh & Hurwitz, 1999). Narrative care acts as a platform to a honest and trustworthy relationship between the client and the nurse. With the relationship formed the nurse can understand the meaning of the condition to the client, the important values of the client’s and can encourage the client’s courage; all while directing care.

Narrative care in nursing is a vital element of health care. Trisha Greenhalgh and Brian Hurwitz (1999) write in their article “Narrative based medicine: Why study narrative?” about how details of the client's condition often come to life in narrative stating: “ [c]ertain descriptions of symptoms appear as fragments torn from elaborate stories” (Greenhalgh & Hurwitz, 1999). In the client's explanation of their condition the nurse can gain more information about the client's worries, fears, hopes, and other feelings about their condition. As well the

nurse can gain knowledge of the loved ones in the client's life and the roles they play in his/her life . The nurse can gain this knowledge by using the technique of open-ended questions rather than its counter, close-ended questions (Potter & Perry, 2014). Rather than compelling the client to speak in simple or one word answers, such as with close-ended questions, open-ended questions allows the client to explain their experiences and feelings with their condition in their own words. If the patient is not able to express the narrative of their condition, such as when only using close-ended questions, many important details that can influence the care of that patient are missing from the nurses knowledge and databases on that particular client (Charon, 2001). When a patient explains their condition or their experience with their condition, the nurse can therefore better comprehend and support the patient in multiple aspects of their health. The feelings, worries, and stress a patient or of their loved ones can be expressed through the narrative of the patient. Understanding the narrative of the client allows the nurse to approach the condition with honest concern about not only the prevalent health concern but other elements of the individual's health. With the trustworthy relationship, and complete knowledge of the clients conditions and all the factors that influence them in their daily lives, only then can the nurse care for all elements of affliction.