The concept of touch as an aspect of Therapeutic Nursing

Abstract: In recent years, considerable attention has been directed towards the development and clarification of the knowledge base of nursing. A concern with the concepts and the resolution of conceptual problems has increasingly emerged as a component of this process of intellectual advancement Touch is increasingly being discussed in the nursing literature, and touch has been identified as an aspect of Therapeutic Nursing. It is argued that la widespread adoption of the concept of nursing as therapy could mark the start of a new era, 24 characterised by improved care for patients .In this article, the author has attempted to clarify touch as an aspect of Therapeutic Nursing, with a review of the literature, critically appraising its use in nursing practice today, and taking into account cultural, psychological, and sociological influences. No discussion of this sort would be complete without the mention of Therapeutic Touch, but the author recognises that this is a further dimension that merits more investigation than this article can provide.

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