‘Here and now’ focused counselling: A model for nurses

Abstract

Nurses refrain from engaging in spontaneous, opportunistic counselling interactions for many reasons. However, the culture within clinical environments is a significant factor. To enact relational aspects of their role in clinical settings nurses need beliefs and values that are congruent with communication skills and compatible for use in a culture that favours physical over the phenomenological care. A counselling model designed to help nurses facilitate subjective exploration, help patients manage immediately distressing experiences and specific to the needs of nurses working in general clinical environments is detailed. Divided into three stages, this paper describes the goal, focus, process, skills and examples of each stage.

Key Words:

• clinical practice
• communication skills
• physical care
• counselling model
• subjective exploration