Who is known as the mother of psychiatric nursing?

The title of "mother of psychiatric nursing" is attributed to Hildegard Peplau due to her influential work that transformed the practice and theory of psychiatric nursing. Peplau was a pioneer in establishing the nurse-patient relationship as a fundamental aspect of psychiatric care. Her landmark publication, "Interpersonal Relations in Nursing," emphasized the importance of communication, empathy, and the therapeutic alliance between nurses and patients in achieving mental health outcomes.

Through her framework, Peplau articulated the stages of the nurse-patient relationship—orientation, identification, exploitation, and resolution—which provided a structured approach to nursing care in mental health settings. This work laid the groundwork for future developments in psychiatric nursing and highlighted the psychological aspects of nursing practice. Her contributions continue to be a cornerstone in the education and practice of psychiatric nursing today, earning her the recognition as a foundational figure in this specialized field.