The Importance Of Compassion In Nursing

1064 Words3 Pages

Nurses are valuable members of the health care team in providing patient-centered care. Throughout nursing school, students are taught about the need to continue education in order to enhance one’s knowledge and maintain up-to-date skills on the latest, most beneficial interventions. Nurses strive to provide care in a holistic manner based on the nursing process (Wallace, 2013); however, do the patients believe these aspects of care are ideal? Often nurses contemplate ways to provide superior, individualized, patient-centered care, which are essential to improve a patient’s health; however, based on my clinical and personal experiences, I believe that ideal customer service for patients also requires strong interpersonal skills, cultural …show more content…

According to Jane Cummings and Sam McPhail (2014), “Compassion is how care is given through relationships based on empathy, respect and dignity. It can also be described as intelligent kindness and is central to how people perceive their care” (p. 549). Hospitalized patients are in an unfamiliar environment; therefore, often experience fear, isolation, and stress. Patients may also feel vulnerable and/or displaced from their family roles. Compassionate nursing helps relieve the environmental stresses and allows improved compliance with self-care. Compassion in nurses is a personality that is crucial to ideal customer service and creating a connection with others (Cummings & McPhail, 2014). It enhances interpersonal and cultural competence skills to reduce the level of stress in the environment. Provision one of the nursing code of ethics clearly states: “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person” (ANA, 2015, p. 8). A nurse knows that the care given is compassionate and appropriate by the gratitude shown through the body language and verbal response from the patient and/or the family member(s). Leaving a patient with a smile on their face at the end of the shift is priceless. Compassionate nursing care is the ideal customer service for all

Open Document