The relationship between a nurse and a client begins from the first meeting. Therapeutic relationships between nurses and clients are shaped from this very first encounter and are essential to nursing care because they contribute to client satisfaction and optimize clinical outcomes. A nurse can encourage therapeutic nurse-client relationships with clients through communication techniques and skills during the initial interview process. This essay will define therapeutic nurse-client relationships, explain the importance of these relationships to client satisfaction and outcomes, and discuss interpersonal communication skills that can be used during the initial interview to help build a therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the client. The relationship is a client-centered relationship between a nurse and a client that develops through the use of interpersonal communication skills and techniques. This form of relationship is considered by educators and health care professionals to be the ideal nurse-client relationship (Morse 1991:458) and is defined as one in which both parties mutually focus on improving health and customer well-being (Crisp & Taylor). 2009: 262; DeLaune and Ladner 2002: 179). DeLaune and Ladner (2002: 179) state that “the primary goal of the relationship is the achievement of therapeutic outcomes by the client.” They go on to explain that often the therapeutic relationship is one in which the client is vulnerable and confidential information is provided to the caregiver. Care of the client is planned, goal-directed, focused on the client's needs, grounded in theory, and has clear boundaries set by the nurse (DeLaune and Ladner 2002:179). Communicat...... middle of paper ......ol. 7, number 1, pp. 64 – 72. DeLaune, SC & Ladner, PK 2002, Fundamentals of nursing: standards and practice, 2nd ed., Thomson Learning, New York. McCallister, M, Matarasso, B, Dixon, B & Shepperd, C 2004, 'Conversation starters: reexamining and reconstructing first encounters within the therapeutic relationship', Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, vol. 11, pp. 575 – 583. Morse, JM 1991, 'Negotiating commitment and involvement in the nurse-patient relationship', Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 16, pp. 455 – 468. Peplau, HE 1997, 'Peplau's theory of interpersonal relationships', Nursing Science Quarterly, vol. 10, pp. 162 – 167. Robinson, CA 1996, 'Health care relationships revisited', Journal of Family Nursing, vol. 2, pp. 152 – 173. Stein-Parbury, J 2010, Patient & Person: Interpersonal Skills in Nursing, 4th ed., Churchill Livingstone, Sydney.