Hildegard Peplau (1909-1999) was a nursing theorist and practitioner who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern psychiatric nursing. Her work focused on the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, and she is perhaps best known for her development of the Theory of Interpersonal Relations in Nursing.

Peplau’s early career as a nurse included work in a variety of settings, including public health, the Army Nurse Corps, and psychiatric hospitals. It was during her time working with psychiatric patients that she began to develop her ideas about the importance of the nurse-patient relationship.

In 1952, Peplau published her landmark book, “Interpersonal Relations in Nursing,” which laid out her theory of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. According to Peplau, the relationship between the nurse and the patient is central to the healing process, and the nurse’s role is to facilitate the patient’s growth and development.

• Peplau’s theory includes four stages of the nurse-patient relationship: orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution. During the orientation stage, the nurse and patient establish trust and begin to understand each other. In the identification stage, the patient identifies with the nurse and begins to take an active role in the healing process. In the exploitation stage, the patient uses the relationship to achieve their goals and develop new coping mechanisms. Finally, in the resolution stage, the patient no longer needs the nurse’s assistance and is able to move forward independently.

Peplau’s theory has been influential in the development of modern nursing practice, particularly in psychiatric and mental health settings. Her emphasis on the importance of the nurse-patient relationship and the role of the nurse in facilitating patient growth and development has helped to shape the way that nurses approach patient care.

In addition to her work as a nursing theorist, Peplau was also a practicing nurse and educator. She served as a professor of nursing at Rutgers University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Los Angeles, and was a prolific writer and speaker on nursing and mental health topics.

Peplau received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to nursing, including the American Nurses Association’s Living Legend Award and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s Episteme Award. She passed away in 1999, but her legacy continues to influence nursing practice and education today.