Introduction
The surrogate role defined by Peplau for nursing practice is still relevant but has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. In modern nursing practice, the surrogate role is less pronounced than it used to be. Essentially, the surrogate role means that nurses must use “surrogate principles” to ensure the presence of the patient and family, even if they cannot be around. In nursing practice, the nurse must use her experience and knowledge to provide the patient with the best possible quality of life. In addition, the nurse must use her information-gathering and analysis skills to make the best decision for the patient and help him and his family make the right decisions.
Explanation of Peplau’s Surrogate Role
First and foremost, Peplau’s surrogate role implies an active partnership between the patient and healthcare professionals. Nurses focus on improving patients’ health, considering their needs, preferences, and priorities (Fletcher, 2023). They offer support and hands-on assistance with day-to-day tasks, realistically assess patient needs, and provide feedback. This role is essential enough for patients who require actual treatment and for professional nurses who apply all its principles to keep them safe and achieve maximum health.
The second most important position in Peplau’s surrogate role is providing information to patients and their families. The nurses look at the patient’s health problems broadly, providing information about proper nutrition, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the characteristics of various symptoms, etc. The nurses also offer psychological support to patients, ensuring their safety and comfort during treatment.
Third, Peplau’s surrogate role involves supporting and developing employees. Nurses are responsible for staff training, assessments, and innovative practices to better serve patients (Mudd et al., 2020). They also review and maintain the quality of care for patients and other healthcare professionals, especially regarding professional and ethical standards.
Relevance of Peplau’s Surrogate Role
Surrogate work will require high professionalism and knowledge from the nurse. The constant updating of information on all aspects of medical research and procedures is crucial to ensure the safety and quality of medical care. In addition, it should be borne in mind that specific guidelines must be followed to evaluate the effectiveness of medical care and monitor patients (Forchuk, 2021). It is essential to ensure communication with other stakeholders and provide patients with information about medical procedures and contraindications.
Nursing practice should also involve actively following the learning process and integrating new methods and techniques into daily work. Incorporating new ideas and practices allows nurses to be relevant and responsive to changing environments and patient needs. It also helps nurses make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome for their patients.
Nursing practice can include various aspects, including the patient’s technical, physical, psychological, and spiritual problems. A nurse must be ready to take on these responsibilities, using creative means to solve the patient’s concerns and help him and his family (Wasaya et al., 2021). As medical technology advances and different approaches to practice are adopted, the role of the surrogate is also changing. Therefore, nursing practice must remain relevant and responsive to changes in the medical environment.
Conclusion
In summary, the surrogate role in nursing remains relevant, even though it has experienced considerable change in recent years. The nurse must use her skills and knowledge to make the right decisions and help the patient and family. She must also be constantly on the lookout for new technologies and ideas to stay relevant and use them to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient.
References
Fletcher, L. (2023). Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations and its applications in aesthetic nursing. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, 12(3), 145-148.
Forchuk, C. (2021). Overview of Peplau’s Theory. In From Therapeutic Relationships to Transitional Care (pp. 3-15). Routledge.
Mudd, A., Feo, R., Conroy, T., & Kitson, A. (2020). Where and how does fundamental care fit within seminal nursing theories: A narrative review and synthesis of key nursing concepts. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(19-20), 3652-3666.
Wasaya, F., Shah, Q., Shaheen, A., & Carroll, K. (2021). Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations: A case study. Nursing Science Quarterly, 34(4), 368-371.