Nursing is a very difficult and challenging profession. It requires long hours and hard work to routinely ensure the health and safety of their patients. Nurses hold certain qualities that allow them to effectively provide care in the most effective and efficient way. Some of the qualities include leadership, determination, and showing empathy and compassion. Empathy and compassion form part of the backbone when it comes to providing patient care. It instills that you are there for them and care about who they are, rather than just a patient with a number. Both qualities play an important role in providing care and can contrast in many ways.
Empathy directly focuses on the ability of the nurse to understand and share the feelings of the patient. This contrasts to compassion, as compassion dives deeper with the understanding of feelings by acting and holding the desire to help. Both terms have the same subject topic, but both take different directions to patient care. In terms of providing care, empathy is when a nurse would sit down with a patient and try to understand how they are feeling through a difficult situation. The nurse would be a support system for the patient. Compassion would be the nurse feeling and understanding the situation of the patient by acting and implementing interventions that would overall benefit them. They both have a specific and unique place while being a primary aspect of providing care.
Compassion and empathy can be seen in many shapes and forms. Jean Watson, a nurse theorist and professor, constructed the 10 Caritive Factors, within Watson’s Theory, that demonstrate compassion and empathy. The theory explains the framework of how nurses provide care in the most productive and efficient way. Compassion and empathy are concrete characteristics that influence the effectiveness of the framework. Watson’s 10 Caritive Factors include the following
“1.The formation of a humanistic-altruistic system of values
2.The instillation of faith-hope
3.The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and to others
4.The development of a helping-trust relationship
5.The promotion and acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings
6.The systematic use of the scientific problem-solving method for decision making
7.The promotion of interpersonal teaching-learning
8.The provision for a supportive, protective and corrective mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual environment
9.Assistance with the gratification of human needs
10.The allowance for existential-phenomenological forces”
The first factor includes the nurse’s ability to form relationships with the patients that is professional yet personal. This includes expressing empathy and compassion towards the patient as you care for them as they are your family. The nurse respects the patient’s values giving them a sense of identity. The second factor incorporates the beliefs of the patient by expressing empathy to allow the patient to accept the terms of their condition. The relationship formed promotes positive health during treatment. The third factor identifies differences in patient care by incorporating different methods of compassion and empathy. The nurse holds the ability to distinguish these differences and act accordingly to provide efficient and effective care. The fourth and fifth factor develops communication that is present in compassion and empathy that entitles the patient to a healthy relationship. The patient, as well as the family, is heard and feel they can trust the nurse with any issue regardless if it is positive or negative. No judgement is mad nor does the family feel guilt for the things they say and do within the practice of patient care. The sixth and seventh factor focuses on compassion by implementing problem solving strategies to promote the health of the patient. The nurse must educate, inform, guide, and explain processes to the patient. The decision-making aspect of these factor can be derived from the nursing process as nurse’s are always looking to improve their skills. The eighth factor looks at the patient’s environment and holds the nurse accountable for providing a safe mental, physical, sociocultural, and spiritual environment. Empathy and compassion play a role by establishing and implementing strategies that promote a healthy environment. The ninth factor involves a nurse’s intuition as well as communication strategies to decide the hierarchy of needs when it comes to patient care. Compassion and empathy aids in decided which needs come first. The nurse identifies what works best with the patient as well as their needs and establishes the order as to which they will be implemented. The tenth and final factor includes the spiritual needs of the patient. The nurse uses empathy and compassion to learn about what spiritual needs the patient has. The nurse sets aside their own beliefs to help aid the patient during care. These factors can be seen in every hospital, long term care facility, and even my clinical rotation.
My experience at clinical was full of effective communication and hands on learning. I went through my daily tasks such as taking vital signs and performing bedside assessments while keeping in mind the necessity of empathy and compassion. One interaction caught my attention when providing care. I was preforming my bedside assessment on an older female patient who was recently admitted. She had fallen in her bedroom and was awaiting the results of her CT scan. She was very distraught and emotional about the situation as she sat in her bed. A little nervous myself, I sat down and expressed empathy through listening to her concerns. We talked about her daughters, her husband, and herself. She expressed how frightened she was that this was her third fall this year and how her health is deteriorating. I ensured the patient, as well as, educated her about some precautions that will help eliminate the risk of falling. I encouraged her to enhance her physical, mental, and spiritual responsibilities through various activities. I expressed compassion by guiding her through these difficult times. This process proved to be effective as the patient demonstrated a more relaxed demeanor.
Reflecting on this experience, it was not particularly perfect. I was timid and quite to start the conversation. As it went on, I started to gain confidence and was efficient and effective with my communication. Next time, I would look to build off this experience to help ensure other patients who are dealing with issues. I will actively listen and express empathy and compassion through my communication. In doing so, will provide comfort and acceptance of the patient. I will also keep in mind the 10 Caritive factors that are apart of Watson’s Theory. This will ensure that the patient is able to trust me with what they are telling me in a nonjudgmental and honest way. This is the standard for all nurse’s regardless of where they are located or what they are practicing.
Nurse’s everywhere are very different yet very similar. They can all come from different backgrounds but all focus on the well-being of the patient. They hold the needed qualities to provide effective and efficient patient care. Compassion and empathy are two of the most vital qualities that each nurse holds. It is these qualities that comfort, support, and give a sense of self to patients during a very critical time in their life. Patients are more than just paying customers. Patients are people who have loving families and emotions. They are citizens of our community that work for the better of others. They are the people who come to us in search of help and it is the job of the nurse to protect them.
References
Jeffrey D. (2016). Empathy, Sympathy and Compassion in Healthcare: Is There a Problem? Is There a Difference? Does it Matter? Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 109(12). 446-452. doi:10.1177/0141076816680120
Rexroth, R., & Davidhizar, R. (2003). Caring: Utilizing the Watson Theory to Transcend Culture. Health Care Manager, 22(4), 295-304.
