Abstract

*James Nwosu, Vincent Inyama and Chibuiko Emeka

The research is a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted at NKST Hospital Mkar, Gboko, Benue State to study the nurse-patient relationship as it affects recovery of patient at the Hospital. Target population for the study was 150. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants after stratified sample technique was used to group the participants into different strata of nurses and patients. Data was collected through the use of self-constructed questionnaire which was administered by the researchers and trained assistants. Data collected were presented in frequency and percentage. Mean scores were used to analyze the data. 2.50 were chosen as the bench mark (≥2.5 as criteria of acceptance). Inferential statistics (chi-square) [X2] was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that there was relative cordial nurse-patient relationship and this has impacted positively on the care of patient as most patients agreed to have been cared for psychologically- a very important aspect of patient recovery from ill-health. However, some barriers such as shortage of nurses, lack of incentives from the management to the nurses were identified as impeding on the adequate expected nurse-patient relationship. It was recommended that the nurses should work hard to deepen helping relationship between the patients and nurses even as they improve o