Students, inclusion, help-seeking and compassionate caring

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on students, trainee nurses, early career psychologists, and other mental health professionals and their response to mental distress or the stresses of working in mental health. Design/methodology/approach – Three journal articles are summarised. The first highlights mental distress in university students and their reluctance to seek counselling. The second paper focuses on addressing the impact that the work of mental health workers can have on them and how this can jeopardise compassionate care. The third paper presents a model of inclusive and caring nurse education. Findings – University students may be more likely to seek counselling for mental distress if they have information about its usefulness and it is normalised rather than stigmatised. Mental health workers including early-career psychologists need to know about “compassion fatigue” and “compassion satisfaction” and need safe places to reflect on the personal impact of hearing about their clients’ traumatic experiences. A whole-organisation model of nurse education that emphasises belonging and inclusiveness may increase nurse retention and nurses’ personal resilience. Originality/value – The paper on students’ help-seeking is the first meta-analysis of several studies on this topic (involving similar variables and measures) in several years. The paper on mental health workers and compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction is rare in looking at this across different professions in one setting. It highlights important ways of maintaining workers’ ability to deliver compassionate care. The model of nurse education is based on recent research evidence and may help increase retention and foster reflection, self-awareness, and resilience in nurses.

Compassion satisfaction: A concept analysis in nursing

“…There are six assumptions that must be in place in order for a nurse to develop compassion satisfaction. First, the nurse desires to have a caring relationship with patients and families and this relationship leads to benefits for the involved parties . The second assumption is that meeting the needs of patients and families results in positive feelings, gratitude, fulfillment, and a sense of worthiness for the nurse .…”

“…The second assumption is that meeting the needs of patients and families results in positive feelings, gratitude, fulfillment, and a sense of worthiness for the nurse . Next, the environment in which caring occurs can influence the nurse, especially in the context of repeated exposures to traumatic events . A fourth requirement is an empathetic connection with patients, which can result in the development of compassion, altruism, sympathy, and understanding .…”

“…The development of resilience is the fourth antecedent, while developing coping mechanisms and practicing self‐care are the fifth and sixth antecedents . Achieving a work‐life balance with adequate social supports is the final antecedent to compassion satisfaction …”

“…The first is the ability to provide enthusiastic and meaningful patient and family care . Improvement in work performance, engagement, and competency are three additional consequences of compassion satisfaction . Next, a positive work environment with a sense of team coherence emerges .…”