Final answer:
During the orientation phase of Peplau's model, a nurse evaluates a patient's awareness of their immediate circumstances concerning time, place, and person. The nurse asks questions to assess this orientation and builds the foundation for a therapeutic relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The orientation phase in Peplau's model refers to the initial stage where a nurse and a patient meet and begin to get to know each other. It is a critical time for creating a professional relationship that will lay the groundwork for the nursing care to follow. During the orientation phase, a patient's awareness of their immediate circumstances is assessed through questions that address their orientation in time, place, and person.
The nurse may ask questions such as, "Do you know what the date is?", "Do you know where you are?" or "What is your name?" to evaluate this awareness. Additionally, the nurse might seek to understand the patient's remote memory, for instance, by asking, "Who is the President of the United States?" or inquiring about events on specific dates.