Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer may require a urinary diver- sion to maximize their health care outcomes. These patients, faced with sudden changes in their health status, develop complex unmet needs that can be addressed by a planned program of education. Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations offers a framework for patient teaching that emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship. This therapeutic relationship enables the nurse to pro- vide the patient with the information needed to understand the diag- nosis, cooperate in the treatment plan, facilitate postoperative recov- ery, and return to a state of independence with quality of life.