Which of the following best describes the identification phase of nurse-patient interaction?

The identification phase of nurse-patient interaction focuses primarily on establishing a relationship between the nurse and the patient, where the nurse facilitates the patient’s understanding of their own needs and roles in the healthcare process. In this phase, the nurse helps the patient recognize their interdependent roles, which is crucial for fostering cooperation and engagement in their care.

This recognition allows patients to identify their unique experiences and perspectives in the healthcare journey, which can lead to better communication and collaboration. By understanding the roles they each play, both the nurse and the patient can work more effectively toward shared goals in the treatment plan.

The other options, while relevant to the overall caregiving process, describe different aspects of the nurse-patient interaction. Developing treatment objectives is more aligned with the planning phase, assessing patient mental status is part of the assessment phase, and providing medication education typically occurs later when discussing specific treatment plans. Each of these functions has its place in the nursing process but does not encapsulate the essence of the identification phase as effectively as recognizing interdependent roles does.