The nurse and the use of narrative: an approach to caring

Abstract

Accessible summary Nurses at all levels of nursing practice can utilize the principles of narrative in the nurse–patient relationship. The nurse can help patients discard negative story lines and rewrite the story with a preferred outcome. This can be accomplished through the use of three main techniques: deconstruction, externalization and re‐authoring. Abstract The use by the nurse of the principles of narrative therapy to help patients re‐author their personal narrative, and change it from a problem‐saturated story to one that is more preferred, is explored. Three main narrative techniques: deconstruction, externalization and re‐authoring are described. Examples of these techniques are provided to help nurses at all levels of nursing practice assume the role of collaborator in the re‐authoring process.