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How does it really feel to be in my shoes? Patients' experiences of compassion within nursing care and their perceptions of developing compassionate nurses

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  • Louise Bramley
  • Milika Matiti

Abstract

Aims and objectives To understand how patients experience compassion within nursing care and explore their perceptions of developing compassionate nurses. Background Compassion is a fundamental part of nursing care. Individually, nurses have a duty of care to show compassion; an absence can lead to patients feeling devalued and lacking in emotional support. Despite recent media attention, primary research around patients' experiences and perceptions of compassion in practice and its development in nursing care remains in short supply. Design A qualitative exploratory descriptive approach. Methods In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 10 patients in a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic networks were used in analysis. Results Three overarching themes emerged from the data: (1) what is compassion: knowing me and giving me your time, (2) understanding the impact of compassion: how it feels in my shoes and (3) being more compassionate: communication and the essence of nursing. Conclusion Compassion from nursing staff is broadly aligned with actions of care, which can often take time. However, for some, this element of time needs only be fleeting to establish a compassionate connection. Despite recent calls for the increased focus compassion at all levels in nurse education and training, patient opinion was divided on whether it can be taught or remains a moral virtue. Gaining understanding of the impact of uncompassionate actions presents an opportunity to change both individual and cultural behaviours. Relevance to clinical practice It comes as a timely reminder that the smallest of nursing actions can convey compassion. Introducing vignettes of real‐life situations from the lens of the patient to engage practitioners in collaborative learning in the context of compassionate nursing could offer opportunities for valuable and legitimate professional development.

Suggested Citation

  • Louise Bramley & Milika Matiti, 2014. "How does it really feel to be in my shoes? Patients' experiences of compassion within nursing care and their perceptions of developing compassionate nurses," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(19-20), pages 2790-2799, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:23:y:2014:i:19-20:p:2790-2799
    DOI: 10.1111/jocn.12537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Hayter, 2010. "Editorial: Researching sensitive issues," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(15‐16), pages 2079-2080, August.
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    1. Mabel San Román-Niaves & Cristián Coo & Susana Llorens & Marisa Salanova, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Compassion between Social Job Resources, and Healthy Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study with Gender Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Wenxin & W. & Bentum-Micah & G. & Zhiqiang & M. & Bing & L. & Asabea Addo & A. & Boadi & B.E. & Atuahene & A.S. & Bondzie-Micah & V., 2020. "The Influence of Encounter Service Quality on Patient Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in Chinese Public Hospitals," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 466-482.
    3. Joanne Durkin & Kim Usher & Debra Jackson, 2019. "Embodying compassion: A systematic review of the views of nurses and patients," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(9-10), pages 1380-1392, May.
    4. Wenxin & W. & Bentum-Micah & G. & Zhiqiang & M. & Bing & L. & Asabea Addo & A. & Boadi & B.E. & Atuahene & A.S. & Bondzie-Micah & V., 2020. "The Influence of Encounter Service Quality on Patient Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in Chinese Public Hospitals," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 461-477.
    5. Jackie Robinson & Tess Moeke‐Maxell & Jenny Parr & Julia Slark & Stella Black & Lisa Williams & Merryn Gott, 2020. "Optimising compassionate nursing care at the end of life in hospital settings," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(11-12), pages 1788-1796, June.
    6. Mary F. Forde & Alice Coffey & Josephine Hegarty, 2020. "Bedside handover at the change of nursing shift: A mixed‐methods study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(19-20), pages 3731-3742, October.
    7. Tracy Levett‐Jones & Robyn Cant, 2020. "The empathy continuum: An evidenced‐based teaching model derived from an integrative review of contemporary nursing literature," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(7-8), pages 1026-1040, April.
    8. Carlos Laranjeira & Maria Anjos Dixe & Isabel Semeão & Sara Rijo & Catarina Faria & Ana Querido, 2022. "“Keeping the Light On”: A Qualitative Study on Hope Perceptions at the End of Life in Portuguese Family Dyads," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.

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