BEFRIENDING THE FAMILY - AN EXPLORATION OF A NURSE CLIENT RELATIONSHIP

This paper explores the relationship between one group of nurses (spec ialist paediatric oncology nurses, or 'SPONs') and the families for wh om they care. It draws upon a recent research review of their role in linking hospital and home care for children with cancer, and it argues that whereas this relationship often contains elements of friendship, it is not friendship in the conventional sense of the term, but is pe rhaps better characterized as a relationship of befriending. Befriendi ng leads to the diminution of formal professional-client barriers and, in some cases, to a close and reciprocal relationship between SPONs a nd their clients. Befriending facilitates partnerships in care between SPONs and families, but also increases the demands of emotional labou r for SPONs. Finally, some questions are raised about the appropriaten ess of the role of befriending in the nurse-client relationship.