Evaluating
the Present Significance of the Surrogate Function in Nursing Practice
Hildegard Peplau’s surrogate role has
received minimal attention in modern nursing literature. Despite its
outstanding recognition, the surrogate capacity remains extremely important in
nursing. Examining the stand-in role’s ongoing significance, including its
capacity to coordinate patient care and treatment facilities, is crucial. Peplau’s
Theory of interpersonal connections in nursing introduced a new perspective,
illustrating the nurse’s function as a substitute for specific people in the
patient’s world (Swaby et al., 2022). This may involve providing patients with
essential comfort, advice, and support to assist with their healing process.
Although the substitute role is rarely discussed in contemporary nursing
literature, its core principles influence nursing practice in numerous
impactful ways.
The replacement position adheres to
the vital principles of patient-centered care, central to delivering modern
healthcare services. In today’s healthcare environment, nurses are increasingly
valued as key members of interdisciplinary care teams, tasked with performing
their duties efficiently and addressing patients’ comprehensive needs. According
to Lee and Winters (2021), nurses build supportive relationships with patients
by assuming the proxy role, fostering trust, empathy, and transparent
communication. This relational approach to care empowers patients, enabling
them to actively engage in decision-making and take ownership of their health
outcomes.
Additionally, the replacement
capacity extends beyond personal patient interactions to include advocating for
and empowering patients on a larger scale. Nurses advocate for patients’
rights, ensuring their voices are heard and their preferences are upheld in
hospital settings. This advocacy role is especially crucial when navigating
complex healthcare systems, encouraging equal treatment access, and addressing
healthcare delivery gaps (Swaby et al., 2022). By embracing the advocacy role,
nurses uphold the ethical principles of beneficence and justice, promoting their
patients’ well-being and autonomy. Nurses step in for patients, offering
compassionate listening, emotional support, and medical guidance to help them
develop coping skills and resilience in the face of challenges (Lee &
Winters, 2021). This comprehensive approach to care acknowledges the
interconnectedness of health’s mental, physical, and spiritual aspects,
highlighting the importance of addressing patients’ psychosocial needs
alongside their medical treatment.
In conclusion, although the surrogate capacity
is rarely explicitly mentioned in contemporary nursing literature, its
importance in determining nursing practice could not be more crucial. By
embracing Peplau’s concepts of empathy, assistance, and holistic care, nurses
reaffirm their commitment to patient-centered practice, healing, and well-being
in an ever-evolving healthcare environment. However, increasing demands for
healthcare services organizations and resource constraints could limit nurses’
ability to engage in alternative roles, highlighting the importance of
administrative support and fundamental improvements to enable patient-centered
care.
References
Lee, H. J., &
Winters, C. A. (2021). Rural nursing theory: Past, present, and future. Rural
Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826183644.0001
Swaby, K., Reynolds,
J., & Mortimore, G. (2022). The past, present, and future of Advanced
Nursing Practice. Practice Nursing, 33(4), 150–154. https://doi.org/10.12968/pnur.2022.33.4.150