Reflection Of Compassion In Nursing

Nursing Situation

As I reflect on my nursing career and patient encounters, I recall a situation that made a significant impact in the wholeness and wellbeing of the patient. As a novice nurse, I had the opportunity to care for Mrs. X, a 36-year-old Hispanic female, who was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and underwent a hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy.

During change of shift report, I was informed by the day shift nurse that the patient had a flat affect and did not show interest in engaging with others. Upon entering the room, I noticed the patient was staring at the wall and did not notice my presence in the room. I began by introducing myself and quickly noticed the patient did not make eye contact with me. As I began to interact

I attentively listened while Mrs. X shared her feelings including her struggles to accept the truth of her situation. I was able to recognize and respond to my patient’s needs and emotions. Compassion was also evident when I listened and supported my patient in silence while she prayed. Roach (2002) described compassion as the “participation in the experience of another” (p. 50). It is the ability to immerse oneself in the patient situations so one can attempt to understand what the patient is feeling. Compassion allowed me to genuinely offer the gift of authentic presence, while conveying a since interest in my patient’s story. I integrated active listening and therapeutic touch to establish a compassionate atmosphere, in which the patient could express her fears and work towards growth and healing (Caranto, 2015). Competence was apparent in my ability to perform an adequate assessment. I recognized my patient’s physical, psychological, and environmental needs. Through rapport and therapeutic communication, I identified my patient’s concerns and fears for the future. Competence was also evident in my capacity to integrate a plan of care that centered not only on addressing identified fears, but also on discovering hope for the future. I displayed confidence by believing in my abilities to care for this patient despite the presenting challenges. I recognized that establishing rapport with the

Empirical knowledge guided my evaluation and physical assessment of Mrs. X. I assessed the surgical incision, inquired about the patient’s pain level, checked lab results, and reviewed the medications. Through personal knowledge, I was able to reflect on myself as a caring person, my values, and the lessons I have learned from past experiences. This allowed me to enter the relationship with sincerity while seeking the best for my patient. Lastly, the pattern of ethical knowing was essential in my ability to enter the relationship in a genuine and non-judgmental manner while respecting the worth of my patient as person and human being (Smith, Turkel, & Wolf,