Using Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations to guide the education of patients undergoing urinary diversion.

Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer may require a urinary diversion to maximize their health care outcomes. These patients, faced with sudden changes in their health status, develop complex unmet needs that can be addressed by a planned program of education. Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations offers a framework for patient teaching that emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. This therapeutic relationship enables the nurse to provide the patient with the information needed to understand the diagnosis, cooperate in the treatment plan, facilitate postoperative recovery, and return to a state of independence with quality of life.