Nurse–patient relationships and partnership in hospital care

• In the reformed UK National Health Service, shaped by government initiatives ( Department of Health, 1989 , 1990 , 1998 ), those receiving health care are encouraged to take an active part in decision‐making affecting their therapy and care and to take steps to improve their health and well‐being. This is endorsed by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. • To enable this, healthcare consumers require information, education, encouragement and support, and nurses are in an ideal position to meet this need. • Fundamental to this is the formation of a trusting professional relationship, the importance of which is arguably overshadowed by more observable nursing work. • The argument here is that forming such a therapeutic relationship involves the nurse in work of an interpersonal and emotional nature that is required to be recognized in clinical practice, education and research.