The surrogate role is one of the four roles that Hildegard Peplau identified in her Interpersonal Relations Model of Nursing. The surrogate role is defined as “the nurse assuming the role of the significant other for the patient in meeting temporarily those needs which are necessary for the patient’s physical and emotional equilibrium.”

The surrogate role is not frequently mentioned in recent nursing practice literature. This is likely because the role is not as relevant to nursing practice as it once was. In the past, nurses were more likely to be providing care to patients who were isolated from their families and friends. In this setting, the nurse may have taken on a more surrogate role, providing emotional support and companionship to the patient.

However, today, patients are more likely to be cared for in settings where they are surrounded by their loved ones. This means that the nurse is less likely to be called upon to fulfill the surrogate role.

However, there are still some situations where the surrogate role may be relevant to nursing practice. For example, the surrogate role may be relevant when the patient is a child or an elderly person who does not have any close family members or friends. In these cases, the nurse may need to provide emotional support and companionship to the patient.

The surrogate role may also be relevant when the patient is experiencing a crisis or trauma. In these cases, the nurse may need to provide support and guidance to the patient as they cope with the situation.

Overall, the surrogate role is not as relevant to nursing practice as it once was. However, there are still some situations where the role may be relevant. In these situations, the nurse can provide valuable support and companionship to the patient.

Here are some of the reasons why the surrogate role is not frequently mentioned in recent nursing practice literature:

• Changes in the healthcare environment: The healthcare environment has changed significantly in recent years. Patients are now more likely to be cared for in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings where they are surrounded by their loved ones. This means that the nurse is less likely to be called upon to fulfill the surrogate role.
• Changes in the role of the nurse: The role of the nurse has also changed in recent years. Nurses are now more likely to be involved in providing technical care, such as administering medications and monitoring vital signs. This means that nurses have less time to spend on providing emotional support and companionship to patients.
• Increased emphasis on evidence-based practice: In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on evidence-based practice in nursing. This means that nurses are more likely to base their care on research evidence rather than on personal experience or intuition. As a result, the surrogate role, which is not based on research evidence, is lesslikely to be emphasized in nursing practice.

Despite these reasons, the surrogate role can still be relevant to nursing practice in some situations. Nurses who are able to provide emotional support and companionship to patients can make a significant difference in the patient’s experience of care.