[Therapeutic communication in Nursing: essential instrument of care].

The objective of the study was to analyze the process of therapeutic communication as developed by nurses who work in hospital units according to Peplau's theory. It is a descriptive-exploratory research accomplished in the period of October and November of 2006, of the Municipal district of Fortaleza, CE, Brazil in october and november, 2006. The participants of the study were 14 patients and 12 nurses, through a a semi-structured interview.