Understanding the concept of compassion from the perspectives of nurses

Abstract

Background: The high level of satisfaction of users of a health service is largely due to the fact that they receive excellent care from healthcare professionals. Compassionate care is an essential component of excellent care. But what do nurses understand compassion to be? Research objectives: To analyse the concept of compassion from the perspective of nurses in the Andalusian Public Health System, Spain. Research design: This is a qualitative study following the grounded theory model. Four focus groups and 25 in-depth interviews were conducted. Participants and research context: A total of 68 nursing professionals working in the Andalusian Public Health System (Spain) participated. Theoretical sampling was used, with participants being recruited using the snowball technique. Ethical considerations: This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Centro-Almería Health District (CEICA 27/9/17). Findings: From the analysis of the data, four themes emerged that helped to understand the concept of compassion according to nurses: ‘Negative perception of the term compassion’, ‘Compassion and empathy as synonyms’, ‘Beyond empathy’, and ‘Effects of having a compassionate attitude’. Discussion: Nurses perceive the concept of compassion differently to each other and even contradictorily. This concept is imbued with cultural elements, which adds confusion to understanding it, and is even perceived as something negative similar to pity. Conclusion: Nurses confuse the concepts of empathy and compassion as if they were synonymous. Before considering training in compassion for healthcare professionals, it is essential to clarify the concept of compassion through educational interventions.

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“…This was probably developed in times when nurses simultaneously freed themselves from the ideal of the health profession as a vocation. Ortega‐Galán 5 illustrate the current confusion and negative attitude towards compassion in a study among clinical nurses, a discourse many recognise. One misunderstanding is that compassion is associated with pity, as a condescending attitude towards a poor fellow being.…”

Burnout in Specialized Care Nurses during the First COVID-19 Outbreak in Spain

“…This may be due to the fact that repeated exposure to stressful or distressing situations in the same workplace causes empathic distress in nursing professionals. This empathic distress leads to emotional distress or burnout [ 34 ].…”

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“…For example, I provide financial support for a patient who does not have financial resources or insurance coverage. "(p. 10) Nurses discussed that some patients have insufficient knowledge of diseases or medical procedures. Therefore, they provide education for the patients and their families to meet their educational needs.…”

“…9 Compassionate care is considered a moral dimension of nursing practice and an essential component of high quality care. 10 In addition to having a practical and technical knowledge of nursing care, it is important for nurses to deliver compassion toward patients and their families. Furthermore, it is considered an important element of professionalism in nursing.…”