Understanding how nephrology nurses' establish and maintain a professional relationship with people receiving haemodialysis.

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A professional and trusting relationship between nephrology nurses and patients is fundamental in facilitating effective care within the haemodialysis (HD) unit. Previous research indicates that both nurses and patients have identified that a unique relationship develops between them, and, in some instances, the relationship has been reported as being like that of an extended family.  The objective of this proposal is to identify and understand the strategies that nephrology nurses use to maintain a long-term professional HD nurse-patient relationship. Drawing from a systematic review which found only three previous studies in the last 10 years, highlights a gap in knowledge on the trajectory of the nurse-patient relationship in the context of HD. This study, situated in the constructivist paradigm and using grounded theory, will recruit approximately 30 HD nurses and collect data through semi-structured interviews to generate a theory explaining the social processes of this professional relationship. Constructivist grounded theory supports the subjective and contextual understanding that multiple realities of the nurse-patient relationship exist. Lastly, this study may provide an understanding of the nurse-patient relationship, and the impact of this relationship on nurses working in HD units. It also has the potential to inform the support needs of the renal nursing workforce and the need to consider strategies to avoid burnout and deliver quality person-centred care.