Strategies for Concept Development and Analysis, Essay Example

Introduction

The concept that I have chosen for the following analysis is “compassion,” which is part of Jean Watson’s Caring Theory and serves as a fundamental component of nursing practice. An evaluation of this concept requires a critical understanding of the term and how it impacts the nursing profession and how nurses respond to patients. In this context, nurses must be able to effectively agree on the meaning of compassion and how it is integrated into the practice setting, in addition to how it is expressed through the human spirit and condition (Cronin et.al, 2010). Watson’s theory embodies the basic human needs required in the delivery of healthcare to patients and is theoretically instilled in the minds and hearts of nurses throughout the world. Although compassion should be inherent in all human beings, it is sometimes difficult for nurses to express compassion towards their patients. Therefore, in some cases, compassion must be demonstrated by example and a conceptual framework to enhance this characteristic in nurses.

Analysis

For Americans without access to healthcare, nurses should be compassionate towards this plight because it poses significant challenges in obtaining access to basic care and service needs for many patients. At the same time, nurses must be able to express their support for this population of individuals in need of care by placing themselves in their shoes, even for a moment, so that nurses are able to better understand the true meaning behind this dilemma (Bramley & Matiti, 2014). From this perspective, nurses may be better able to understand the struggles of some patients who cannot access healthcare and how their needs must be addressed effectively through increased compassion in these situations (Bramley & Matiti, 2014).

The concept of compassion must also be evaluated as part of a larger phenomenon associated with nursing that has an impact on access to healthcare. It is believed that when nurses demonstrate compassion in the practice setting and are also able to step out of the bubble and recognize the larger issue of limited access to healthcare, they are likely to demonstrate an even greater level of compassion for those in need of care that require attention and focus (Wiklund Gustin & Wagner, 2013). From this perspective, nurses must demonstrate compassion towards all patients and be able to express themselves in a professional yet understanding manner to improve patient care quality and outcomes (Wiklund Gustin & Wagner, 2013). Although some nurses also experience a high level of burnout in some environments due to the type of situations that they face in the practice setting (Lombardo & Eyre, 2011), they must remain focused on compassionate care and treatment for all patients and work collaboratively to aid those who have limited or no access to care. This must remain a primary focus for nurses and enable them to recognize that patients require compassion to get through a variety of healthcare situations, regardless of the severity. Healthcare is a taxing and emotional process, and nurses must be supportive of patients who require care, regardless of the circumstances, as high quality care depends on their ability to focus and exercise compassion for all patients throughout the healthcare spectrum.

Conclusion

Compassion is a critical component of Watson’s Theory of Caring; therefore, nurses must be able to demonstrate compassion throughout the healthcare setting as a means of expanding knowledge and improving outcomes for patients. In particular, Americans without access to care must be provided with a compassionate and caring environment to meet their needs and to enable them to achieve greater support from the healthcare community and the nursing profession as a whole. These efforts will support a nurse-led support system for patients through compassion and understanding of this issue.

References

Bramley, L., & Matiti, M. (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.

Cronin, P., Ryan, F., & Coughlan, M. (2010). Concept analysis in healthcare research. International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation, 17(2), 62-68.

Lombardo, B., & Eyre, C. (2011). Compassion fatigue: A nurse’s primer. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(1).

Wiklund Gustin, L., & Wagner, L. (2013). The butterfly effect of caring–clinical nursing teachers’ understanding of self?compassion as a source to compassionate care. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 27(1), 175-183.