Nurse Home Visitor

Trust and respect vital for successful Nurse-Mum partnership

by a Nurse Home Visitor

Developing a trusting rapport with clients who don’t have many healthy existing relationships and a complex history of trauma is one of the biggest challenges working in this program. Trust is hard when all a client has had in the past is evidence of why they shouldn’t.

A client can be seemingly shy and reserved, disinterested and aloof, closed off and distant, or even display a pretence that all is well when there is actually a lot of turmoil within.

In order to earn trust and thereby successfully deliver the educational content that will assist clients in developing healthy parenting skills relies heavily on the cultivation and maintenance of consistency, reliability and transparency. This allows the defensive walls to chip away slowly and reveal the person behind full of character and personality.

I’ve had a few clients like this where at each visit I start to see them coming out of their shell more and more. The conversations flow more, the interactions become more comfortable and the disclosure of information comes willingly because there is trust.

Maintaining that trust and respect is the pillar to a successful partnership, reflected in the growth of the client as an individual and as a loving parent.

If this story has reminded you of your own trauma and you need someone to talk to, please call one of these helplines:
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Beyond Blue - 1300 23 4636
Blue Knot - 1300 657 380.