Introduction: Despite the importance of compassionate leadership in health care, many of the existing publications do not account for the effect of culture. The aim of this study is to explore the views of nursing and midwifery managers from different countries in relation to the definition, advantages, and importance of compassion. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory online survey was conducted across 17 countries, containing both closed and open-ended questions. Data from N = 1,217 respondents were analyzed using a directed hybrid approach focusing only on qualitative questions related to compassion-giving. Results: Four overarching themes capture the study’s results: (1) definition of compassion, (2) advantages and importance of compassion for managers, (3) advantages and importance of compassion for staff and the workplace, and (4) culturally competent and compassionate leadership. Discussion: Innovative research agendas should pursue further local qualitative empirical research to inform models of culturally competent and compassionate leadership helping mangers navigate multiple pressures and be able to transculturally resonate with their staff and patients.

To explore nursing and midwifery managers' views regarding obstacles to compassion-giving across country cultures. Background: The benefit of compassionate leadership is being advocated, but despite the fact that health care is invariably conducted within culturally diverse workplaces, the interconnection of culture, compassion and leadership is rarely addressed. Furthermore, evidence on how cultural factors hinder the expression of compassion among nursing and midwifery managers is lacking. Methods: Cross-sectional, exploratory, international online survey involving 1 217 participants from 17 countries. Managers' responses on open-ended questions related to barriers for providing compassion were entered and thematically analysed through NVivo. Results: Three key themes related to compassion-giving obstacles emerged across countries: 1. related to the managers' personal characteristics and experiences; 2. system-related; and 3. staff-related. Conclusions: Obstacles to compassion-giving among managers vary across countries. An understanding of the variations across countries and cultures of what impedes compassion to flourish in health care is important. Implications for nursing practice and policy: Nursing mangers should wisely use their power by adopting leadership styles that promote culturally competent and compassionate workplaces with respect for human rights. Policymakers should identify training and mentoring needs to enable the development of managers' practical wisdom. Appropriate national and international policies should facilitate the establishment of standards and guidelines for compassionate leadership, in the face of distorted organizational cultures and system-related obstacles to compassion-giving.

Objetivo: identificar elementos de competencia cultural (CC) en las enfermeras en salud pública (ESP) cuando cuidan a población indígena emberá-chamí.Metodología: etnografía interpretativa con observación participante y entrevistas en profundidad a diez colaboradores.Análisis de datos basado en la propuesta de Leininger con apoyo de los programas ATLAS.ti y Excel.Resultados: el patrón cultural permite identificar la capacidad de las esp para analizar su propia cultura, conocer, comprender e interactuar con la cultura del indígena y mediar a través de comunicación caracterizada por empatía, adaptación del lenguaje verbal y no verbal que evidencian respeto por la singularidad indígena, en un contexto de armonía con laspolíticas institucionales basadas en la cultura indígena.Conclusión: la CC de esp es un proceso amplio, tanto de ESP con la comunidad como de la articulación con políticasinstitucionales para atender la cosmovisión indígena.