Nursing Home Nurses' Attitudes, Empathy, and Ideologic Orientation

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to assess the empirical relationship of the psychosocial variables of empathy, attitudes, and ideological orientation toward treatment (custodial versus therapeutic). The sample consisted of 363 volunteers representing all levels of nursing personnel in seven different nursing homes. The data analysis indicated that a low level of empathy, negative attitudes toward the elderly, and a custodial orientation toward treatment were significantly positively correlated. Positive attitudes were not significantly correlated with empathy, orientation toward treatment, or negative attitudes. There were significant differences in empathy, negative attitudes, and custodial orientation toward treatment among the staff levels and nursing homes. However, positive attitudes varied significantly only among nursing homes. These data suggest directions for enhancing the ability of nursing personnel to interact therapeutically with elderly persons in nursing homes.

The perceived credibility of older adults as witnesses and its relation to ageism

“…leading to discrimination in the workplace (McCann & Giles, 2002), suboptimal doctor-patient communication and relationships (Greene, Adelman, Charon, & Hoffman, 1986), or lower empathy, belittling treatment, and encouragement of dependency by nursing staff in care homes (Bagshaw & Adams, 1985;Hatton, 1977;Ryan, Giles, Bartolucci, & Henwood, 1986). For a systematic review of the impact of ageist behaviours in a range of areas, see the work of Pasupathi and Loeckenhoff (2002).…”

Variations in the Treatment Culture of Nursing Homes and Responses to Regulations to Reduce Drug Use

“…However, it is believed that facilities have different philosophies for managing dementia or mental illness (14,15,22) and that a residentcentered philosophy is essential for reform (3). However, it is believed that facilities have different philosophies for managing dementia or mental illness (14,15,22) and that a residentcentered philosophy is essential for reform (3).…”

Empathy, experience of burnout and attitudes towards demented patients among nursing staff in geriatric care

“…The necessity for empathy in a therapeutic relationship between nursing stafiF and patients is stated in a numberof articles (Kalisch 1973, Rogers 1975, Bagshaw & Adams 1985 Empathic ability in the nursing staff and possibilities to leam empathy and raise their empathic ability have also been discussed (Goldstein & Goedhart 1973, Fine & Themen 1977, Layton 1979, Pool & Sanson-Fisher 1980, LaMonica 1981, Ehzur & Rosenheim 1982 Accordmg to LaMonica (1981), empathy is an abihty in the nursing stafif to place himself mentaUy and emotionally mto the world of the patient with whom he is interacting, to communicate his understanding to the patient and the patient's perception of the helper's understanding Patients suffenng from dementia often have behavioural disturbances due to the bram damage This will make it difficult for the nursing staff to understand and place themselves m the patient's world The nurse has to use his imagination and be creative in his contact with the patient Expenence of bumout among nursmg staff workmg m genatnc care is often descnbed as a cause of low empathy, negative attitudes towards the patients, low job satisfaction and turnover (Pines et al 1981, Maslach 1982 Accordmg to Pmes et al (1981), bumout is defmed as 'feelmgs of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion associated with an intense mvolvement with the patient over time' They also state that the expenence of bumout always at least partly contams more general demands which are not pnnumly related to deep mvolvement with the patient Expenence of bumout is charactenzed by physical depletion, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, negative self-concept, negative attitudes towards work, hfe and other people, as well as a lowenng of empathic ability (Chemiss 1980, Pmes rffl/ 1981, Maslach 1982 Bumout is also shown to be related to somatic complamts and illness (Belcastro 1982) Bumout expenences have been found among health care workers (Keane et al 1985, Cronm-Stubbs & Schaffner 1985 m different kmds of health care speaalizahons (Pnce & Bergen 1977, Mor & Laliberte 1984 Development and signs of the expenence of bumout as well as demands and strams causmg bumout have also been ldenti&ed (Pmes & Masladi 1978, Chemiss 1980, Maslach 1982…”