Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Compassion is defined as having pity or concern for the suffering of others. These two values of empathy and compassion are necessary to provide exceptional patient care. These values also happen go hand in hand with Doctor Jean Watsons 10 Carative Factors. Doctor Watson is known internationally for her 10 Carative Factors and her theories on nursing care.
The first factor is forming humanistic-altruistic value systems. This is the most basic factor for enhancing client care. Being unselfish and putting the patient first gives the client meaning to their life. The next carative factor is instilling faith/hope. Incorporating faith into patient care can provide the patient with a sense of well-being when science and medicine has nothing else to offer. The next factor is cultivating a sensitivity to self and others. The recognition of feelings will encourage self-growth in both the patient and nurse. It also helps the nurse in becoming more genuine and authentic in their care. Following that is the factor of developing a helping-trust relationship. With the nurse typically spending the most time with clients, building a helping/trusting relationship is crucial to patient care. Communication is a huge part of this process whether it be verbal, non-verbal, or just listening. Next, is promoting the expression of feelings. The expression of both positive and negative feelings is necessary to understand client behaviors and thoughts. It is important the nurse is aware of these feelings and understands them so the care plan can be adjusted as needed. The next factor is using problem solving for decision making. Nurses must be able to critically think using evidence based research and prior clinical experience. This decision making process gives the client the highest level of care and compassion. Next, is promoting teaching/learning. Patient teaching shows that you care about the client’s health while also giving the patient better understanding of their condition. In addition, it is important to consider the clients understanding/cognitive status. Adapting teaching plans to clients’ needs shows your understanding of their condition and improves the nurse patient relationship. Following this is promoting a supportive environment. All patients deserve comfort, privacy, and safety. So when caring for a client, it is important to provide supportive and protective environment. This environment will promote healing both mentally and physically. The next factor is assisting with gratification of human needs. Helping patients satisfy their hierarchical needs is essential for the promotion of their health. All patients deserve to be valued and cared for in this way. Finally, the last factor is allowing for existential phenomenological forces. The allowance of existential phenomenological forces can help the nurse assist the patient to find guidance or strength in the face of life and death. It can be a thought provoking experience for the patient and give them a better understanding of themselves/their situation.
All of Watsons Carative factors can be related to the values of empathy and compassion in your nursing care. Understanding the suffering patients endure and having a true concern for their well-being will only improve your level of patient care. It’s critical to put these factors/ values into action in order to enhance your level of care and skills as a nurse.
When thinking about providing empathy and compassionate care there is a particular patient that sticks out to me. This patient was very beaten up sustaining multiple fractures to their upper and lower body. They were in a considerable amount of pain because of this. During our conversation, I could tell that they had been lonely in the hospital. With COVID protocols in place, visitors have been limited making it hard on patients and their families. I talked with the patient for about half an hour listening to their stories and thoughts on the future. I provided guidance and emotional support for them as needed which they really seemed to appreciate. The overall story was moving and interesting to learn about. The topic we discussed the most was not being able to go back to working their normal job. This was a job that they had worked for most of their lives. I could tell it was difficult for them to talk about it but it also gave them a sense of relief to let it out. Yet, despite the harsh reality of the injury, they remained positive throughout the conversation. They seemed to be happier that they were alive more than anything.
Throughout this talk, I was able to put myself in the shoes of the client. I could see what they were going through and all the implications it had on their life. The client really opened up to me about these things which showed their trust and I thought further developed our relationship. To see a patient with so many issues still have a positive view on their life not only was it encouraging but it was motivating. I really wanted to do my best for this patient. I really felt a concern for them and really wanted to see them reach their goals. Their attitude towards life was contagious it was almost hard not to smile. It also made me appreciative for the things that I had it my own life. It taught me to be appreciative for whatever you have in life because you never know when it may get taken away. At the end of the conversation, they thanked me for taking the time to talk with a smile. This was a rewarding experience for me. I felt like I was able to learn so much from this one patient alone. They taught me what it means to provide empathy and compassion into your care. When you can see yourself from the patient’s point of view and show empathy, it improves the level of care on both sides.
Overall, I learned something new every day. Between working with the patients, nurses, and the CNAs, each person taught me something different and valuable. This is all information that I will be able to apply in my future. With each clinical experience there will be new challenges and obstacles to overcome. The knowledge I have gained throughout this experience will only help me in my future. However, there will always be more to learn as the education and patient care does not stop.
References
J. Watson. (2013, August 11). Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://jaimesorianorn.wordpress.com/nursing-videos/
Pajnkihar, M., Štiglic, G., & Vrbnjak, D. (2017, February 7). The concept of Watson’s carative factors in nursing and their (dis)harmony with patient satisfaction. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5299993/
