Question for all

[Lylesmom]

What do you feel is the professional nurse's role in regard to empathy and compassion? what are your feelings regarding the importance of these two things?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Ideally, all nurses should be empathetic and compassionate. In an ideal world, all nurses would display empathy and compassion for helping other people in need.

However, idealism and realism are two separate issues.

Realistically, a nurse can provide warm and competent care without being empathetic or compassionate. In a realistic professional climate, a person can enter the nursing profession and become a darn good nurse without being entirely motivated by empathy and compassion for helping other people. All nurses do not need to fit the classic "angel of mercy" stereotype in order to be a wonderful, competent worker toward their patients.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Homework question?

[leslie :-D]

compassion and empathy are not synonymous.

empathy can benefit your pts at all times.

compassion, otoh, does not.

and i agree with commuter.

we need to redefine what makes an ideal nurse.

the compassionate, angel of mercy image, is getting old.

and more important, it frequently does not help our pts achieve wellness.

leslie

[firstyearstudent]

I think it's the least a nurse can do and usually requries very little effort. Sometimes all you need to do is actually look a patient in the eyes when you talk to them. Patients are going through a lot physically, emotionally and spiritually. It's so much harder when they are being treated like an imposition or like they're an assignment -- not like they're a human being in the middle of a crisis. Sometimes all it takes is acknowledging what they are going through t by saying, "You're going through a lot," or "This is a lot for you to deal with."

[steelcityrn, RN]

I feel they both are very important and always will be needed in nursing.

[nyapa, RN]

Now I'm going to get philosophical. Compassion is based on our judgement of a patients situation..."I feel for you because..." - even if you don't verbalise it. And the patient may not see those things as requiring their compassion.

Empathy on the other hand is communication between you and your patient. You try to walk in their shoes without actually doing so; thus allowing them to express how they feel, and perhaps helping them to solve what they view as their problems if they choose to do so. They just may want you to listen.

Therein lies the problem:

• time constraints - it is important to find out what the person sees as important, and build up a relationship of trust. Wouldn't it be great to be able to spend the necessary time, when you know they need it?
  
• the patient has to want you to be empathetic - you have to recognise how far you can tread into their personal space.
  
• you also have to think of your own safety - pts can be aggressive these days (how cynical am I?)
  

But I believe despite all this we have to do our best to be empathetic; that is what we are there for, not just to run from bed to bed adjusting IVs, doing vital signs, making beds, and all the technical cares we provide as well to promote physical healing. I believe empathy can in the long run help a pt gain control of their own situation, by allowing them to view their good and bad experiences. It also helps us to assess our patient's wholistic health situation, providing appropriate care and education. But our best is all we can do...

I am not good at expressing myself, but can you pick up the gist of what I am saying? Be empathetic; and then maybe have compassion for what the person views as their problem.

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

:yeahthat: Trying to be kind and understanding towards your patients is really a necessity, whether you call it empathy, compassion, caring, etc.,

But, as with most other things, there are various practical constraints...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Both empathy and compassion represent the nurse's emotions and not the patient's. To express caring the nurse should demonstrate actions that express empathy and compassion, such as identifying yourself and your purpose, appropriate touch, listening, interacting positively.

[loricatus]

I think that empathy and compassion are traits that should be employed in most professions. Imagine how the world could change if the bankers, businessmen, salespersons, headhunters, hospital executives, politicians... showed empathy and compassion over worshipping the almighty dollar.

[Lylesmom]

thanks to all of you for replying to my questions. It is always a benefit to see other nurses' points of view. I sometimes feel that after nurses have worked so long, they sometimes forget why they wanted to go into nursing. We were asked why we went into nursing and you hear every reason. I stated I wanted to because volunteering at the time as a first responder was a wonderful experience to know people can count on you in a critical situation. That is the greatest reward. I never forget the smiles from my patients when I care for them, because they know that during the time I am caring for them, they are the most important thing to me. I work on an 18-bed acute rehab unit and even though most of the time we don't have a CNA or Unit clerk, and we do all of the cares....I am still able to make them smile and provide the best care possible. I am constantly teased by the other nurses that I am "too nice" to the patients! but that is why I chose nursing!