The butterfly effect of caring – clinical nursing teachers’ understanding of self‐compassion as a source to compassionate care

Abstract

This study has its roots in a clinical application project, focusing on the development of a teaching-learning model enabling participants to understand compassion. During that project four clinical nursing teachers met for a total of 12 hours of experiential and reflective work. This study aimed at exploring participants' understanding of self-compassion as a source to compassionate care. It was carried out as a phenomenological and hermeneutic interpretation of participants' written and oral reflections on the topic. Data were interpreted in the light of Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Five themes were identified: Being there, with self and others; respect for human vulnerability; being nonjudgmental; giving voice to things needed to be said and heard; and being able to accept the gift of compassion from others. A main metaphorical theme, 'the Butterfly effect of Caring', was identified, addressing interdependency and the ethics of the face and hand when caring for Other - the ethical stance where the Other's vulnerable face elicits a call for compassionate actions. The findings reveal that the development of a compassionate self and the ability to be sensitive, nonjudgmental and respectful towards oneself contributes to a compassionate approach towards others. It is concluded that compassionate care is not only something the caregiver does, nor is compassion reduced to a way of being with another person or a feeling. Rather, it is a way of becoming and belonging together with another person where both are mutually engaged and where the caregiver compassionately is able to acknowledge both self and Other's vulnerability and dignity.

Factors Associated With Well-being and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care

“…12,13,15,28,[32][33][34] Few studies have examined the role of self-compassion, extending kindness and care toward oneself, in health professionals as a moderating influence on the care provided to others. 35,36 An emerging body of work suggests that self-compassion is associated with positive mental health and that it can be cultivated with training. [37][38][39][40] This study was not designed to determine the most effective or efficient form of mindfulness or selfcompassion training for clinicians or to identify a target group that might benefit from such training.…”

Nursing students’ experiences of the empathy of their teachers: a qualitative study

“…The theory of Human Caring (Watson 2008) also presents 10 Carative human to human factors, two of which are particularly relevant to the focal concern of this paper (the influence of teachers' empathy on nursing students and their professional development). The first, Development of a helping-trusting, human caring relationship, indicates that teachers should have non-judgmental attitudes, hold unconditional regard, show respect for others' lived experience, and communicate both respectfully and constructively (Watson 2008;Wiklund Gustin and Wagner 2013).…”

Enabling the flow of compassionate care: a grounded theory study

“…As a consequence, humans were able to care for those in need and to exhibit concern for them [7]. This underlines the relational aspect of compassion [5, 8, 9], which necessitates an understanding of and connection with another [5, 10]. Compassion is also referenced in religious texts and belief systems [11], including Buddhism, where it constitutes being open and having an active response to suffering [12], guided by “reason and wisdom which is embedded in an ethical framework concerned with the selfless intention of freeing others from suffering” [11].…”

“…Compassion is also referenced in religious texts and belief systems [11], including Buddhism, where it constitutes being open and having an active response to suffering [12], guided by “reason and wisdom which is embedded in an ethical framework concerned with the selfless intention of freeing others from suffering” [11]. Compassion, therefore, connotes a deep connection with someone’s suffering [13], accompanied by the intention to act to alleviate this situation [9]. …”