Compassion from a nurse is an endearing trait because it supplies patients with proper emotional support. Consequently, it reduces sadness and misery among patients and reinforces the will of patients to live more.
This virtue is vital in nursing because it helps make patients feel better about themselves and guarantees everything will be okay in no time. In other words, patients cared for with compassion are likely to feel better quickly because they have fewer worries.
The importance of compassion in nursing
Compassionate nursing is vital for several reasons. It aids nurses in giving the best treatment possible and enhances patient results. Below are some of the benefits of compassion in nursing.
Addresses isolation and loneliness
Hospitalization is an isolated experience where one enters a new environment away from the comfort of their home and family members. Patients might stay in rooms alone for extended durations, and this causes them to lose interest in talking. Their only social interactions during such moments are with nurses and other medical providers.
Nurses who practice compassionate care and make an effort to communicate with patients lower their state of loneliness and sadness. A nurse can start a simple conversation by asking a patient about their hobbies or the best movie they have seen to make them feel lighter. That connection time with the patient will go a long way in ensuring they are not sad or lonely.
Lowers anxiety
Patients admitted to hospitals may suffer from anxiety, especially in new hospital settings. Remember, these are individuals with health problems who are in a new environment away from their loved ones. Without a doubt, they will not be in their best state of mind.
Nurses need to go the extra mile to be compassionate to help patients reduce anxiety. They need to be the person a patient will talk to and share their feelings. Ensuring patients are comfortable in their precarious condition will lead to a swift recovery since they will be relaxed most of the time.
Enhances communication
Nurses who provide compassion in their connections will form faith between themselves and their patients. It will be easier for patients to communicate their health needs, making it easier for nurses to understand them. Consequently, nurses will understand how sick person feels, their concerns, and how they recover.
Nurses become better advocates
A part of being a nurse is always being there for the patients. One needs to understand a patient to become a better advocate ultimately. Being compassionate gives one a better insight into the patient’s condition, granting them the best care and advocating for them in conversations with other practitioners and family members.
Enhances the well-being of patients
Any patient wants to be cared for by a nurse with affection, love, and respect. Nurses who learn to provide compassion will enhance the patients’ happiness and well-being. This will result in better health results and make the experience of everyone more pleasant.
Developing Compassion in Nursing
Developing compassion in nursing is not innate but can be learned. One needs to make an effort to become more compassionate. Here are some practices that can help:
- Self-reflection – When nurses understand their own emotions, they know the emotions of their patients and respond with compassion.
- Active listening – By listening to patients, nurses can understand the needs of patients and act accordingly.
- Creating relationships – Nurses must create rapport and build relationships with patients for better communication and understanding.
- Continuing education – Reputable institutions such as the University of Indianapolis guide their students to become compassionate nurses. Students learn better communication, patient-centered care, and cultural competency. By continuing to learn, nurses develop skills that make them care for their patients better.
Utilizing Compassion in Nursing
Nurses need to continue professional development to better utilize compassion in their profession. Below are tangible ways nurses can utilize compassion in their practice.
- Showing respect to the patient – A nurse can give the patient privacy and try their best to explain everything the patient needs to know respectfully.
- Creating a welcoming environment – Nurses need to create a comfortable, safe space for patients by greeting them with a smile and using warm gestures to make patients feel more comfortable.
- Giving emotional support – Nurses can provide emotional support by listening to patients’ concerns, validating their feelings, and responding empathetically.
- Encouraging patient autonomy – This involves empowering patients to make their own decisions, providing them with information about their condition, and involving them in the care process.
