Hildegard Peplau is best known for developing which concept in psychiatric nursing?

• A. Crisis intervention model
• B. Evidence-based practice
• C. Therapeutic nurse-client relationship
• D. Biomedical model

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested is that the healing power in psychiatric nursing comes from the therapeutic nurse–client relationship. Peplau’s view was that nursing is an interpersonal process, and the quality of interactions between the nurse and the client drives progress in care. She described a dynamic relationship that unfolds through phases—orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution—and she defined the nurse’s roles as resource person, counselor, and technical expert to support the client’s growth and coping.

This focus on how the relationship itself facilitates change is what sets Peplau apart. Crisis intervention models concentrate on immediate stabilization during crises, but Peplau centers on ongoing, productive interaction. Evidence-based practice is a broader movement about using research to guide care, not a theory Peplau pioneered. The biomedical model emphasizes biology and pathology over interpersonal dynamics, which conflicts with Peplau’s emphasis on relational process as the path to healing.