One Concept of Nursing (Empathy) (Essay Sample)

One concept of Nursing (Empathy)
Name
Professor
Institution
Course
Date
Introduction
The focus of this study seeks to address the concept of empathy, which is an imperative aspect in the field of nursing known to help nurses in discharging their duties as necessitated (Smajdor, Stöckl & Salter, 2011, p. 380). This is especially when dealing with patients who are experiencing pain whereby nurses despite their feelings ought to be strong without sufferings of their patients affecting them. Besides this concept’s definition, the study intends to show its impact on good healthcare (Scott, 2011). This is by utilizing already conducted scholarly information by other scholars and if there are, any problems associated with this concept once applied in the nursing field. In addition, the researcher with the aid of scholarly content will ascertain how this concept relates with the field of practice and how it might of great assistance in informing his or her about one’s practice in future (Julia & Theodore, 2010, p. 752). I have chosen this concept with the intention of ascertaining its impacts in the field of nursing and acquiring more information concerning what awaits me in future as a disability nurse, which is a quite demanding profession.
Empathy refers to nurses’ ability to understand their respective patients’ painful experiences and isolated worlds with the intention of giving both verbal as well as nonverbal interpretation that will enhance nurse-patient relationships (Whinder, 2013). In the case of physically challenged people or those experiencing varied disabilities, this implies understanding their feelings, how they view themselves being unable to perform certain tasks like their well-bodied counterparts (Trueland, 2012). Definition of this concept from a disability perspective entails more than understanding or having compassion towards the ailing but nurses being ready to associate themselves with them as well as acting as their positive agent in avoiding negative attitudes or low self-esteem. This is because many of them view themselves as a burden to the society (which in turn develops sympathy towards them) based on extra attention they normally receive even when they do not need it especially in public areas (Baglieri & Shapiro 2012, p. 237).
When nurses emphasize with patients put under their care they greatly lessen their pain (Chowdhry, Pgcert-Tqfe, HNC, 2010). This is because when attending to patients they normally put themselves into their positions considering the extent of pain and suppose it was them what they could have felt. Consequently, this prompts them to shade off “the veil of ignorance” that bars them from understanding patients’ feelings and seeing painful challenges, which they are enduring from their perspective while receiving respective medications or therapies in the case of the disabled. Therefore, perceiving what an ailing or a physically challenged person experiences on daily basis prompts nurses and those dealing with them undertake their tasks with humanity and not as mere clinical duties during their shifts. Once patients develop a close relationship with their practitioners prompts the latter feel experiences, which they are undergoing become bearable. Since, they are capable of expressing themselves to listening practitioners who in turn respond with positive attitude and understanding perspective contrary to what they were thinking (Bowers, Brennan, Winship & Theodoridou, 2009). Essence of empathy is evident in Fadyl, McPherson and Kayes (2011) study where they contend it enhances quality of care especially when dealing with disabled people. Since, this is what differentiates mere nurses’ application of technical knowhow and that coupled with empathy. Besides varying services required by physically challenged people, they undergo quick recuperation coupled with most of them learning on how to manage their varied conditions (Fadyl, McPherson & Kayes, 2011). In addition, empathy enhances sound relationships with both clients’ relatives and other quests whom they interact with while undertaking his or her tasks. Hence, this improves attitudes of disabled people by seeing him or herself enveloped by loving and considerate people ready to offer any assistance (Barker, 2008, p. 327).
Despite empathy emphasized by numerous scholars especially in the medical field, it poses serious and detrimental impacts on the involved parties (Watts, 2014). For instance, nurses complain of heightened burnout especially those who have other chores like family-related such that once they are from their working environment feel emotionally drained to cheer up with own people. This is because their work is not only technical but also encompasses involvement of emotional aspect with the intention of alleviating one’s pain as well as raising their low self esteem in the case of physically challenged (Watts, 2014). In most cases, nurses undergo severe and even challenging situations while discharging their duties but on contrary receive negative appreciation by certain percentage of patients. This is especially from patients demanding magical and dramatic changes from their painful conditions to the extent of passing over what they are experiencing to nurses whereby according to Tomlinson (2012) ought to avoid. Hence, giving rise to frustrations among numerous nurses who despite understanding their disabled clients start presuming they are too demanding and what they are requesting is only to cause unending wrangles (Tomlinson, 2012). Empathizing with patients by nurses may encounter great challenge when dealing with diverse patients whose personal believes may not advocate for certain clinical procedures. This is evident with certain denominations’ adherents who do not accept blood transfusion besides other practices done on their patients irrespective of the precarious situations they may be experiencing. In this situation, nurses find themselves in a dilemma despite availing adequate information to the patient and his or her relatives what would happen if one were unwilling to have blood transfusion. Consequently, nurses end up watching helpless as their patients supported by relatives dying of which they could have saved him or her if it were not for religious beliefs. Quince, Parker, Wood & Benson (2011) in their study contend the insistence of empathy is an imperative aspect despite varying across genders, which nurses ought to develop while in school in readiness to tasks awaiting them usually undermines their respective powers besides detracting them from implementing technical knowhow and skills. Since overemphasis of empathy usually deprives nurses their power meant to approach any medical condition from a clinical perspective because they will be listening to what patients and their relatives deem is appropriate (ion case of disabled) (Garden, 2010, p. 224).
The concept of empathy will be essential in my specialization based on the fact I have to understand and even know whom I am dealing with based on challenges they are going through. This is because most of them cannot do anything worthwhile in time due to their varied disabilities (Miller, 2013). The link between my practice as disability nurse and the concept of empathy encompasses unselfish service to the disabled, which is essential in ensuring comfort of the suffering (Miller, 2013). Both aspects entail understanding and a lot of patience on the part of nurses whereby without empathy one cannot adequately discharge his or her duties effectively to the extent of meeting varied and unique needs required by the disabled. Therefore, in discharging my services, empathy will enable me in establishing good and health relations with both the disabled and their relatives.
Based on the information I have read regarding the concept of empathy in nursing, it acts as an equipping tool to what awaits me in the future while pursuing my goals as a disability nurse (Dadds, 2008). This is in knowing the essence of discharging a heightened quality care that will lead to a quick recuperation because of positive attitude, which nurses initiate among their clients through empathizing with them. Consequently, this implies in future while in the field I have to develop high level of understanding of each person whom I am dealing with together with their relatives besides other loved ones (Tavakol, Dennick, Tavakol, 2012, p. 307). Empathy studies so far conduct cite, seeing the world from a patient’s perspective based on what they experience is an essential factor that determines the quality of healthcare. Therefore, if I intend to excel and even be of value in the practice I am dealing with the disabled having varied and unique needs, it is essential that I embrace the concept of empathy besides teamwork with other nurses (Alexis, 2009). Since, this is what will bring me close to the suffering both emotionally and physically whereby some due to their incapacities have developed low self-esteem. In addition, despite nurses mandated to be soft hearted towards their patients and those whom they are serving, they ought to be emotionally detached from what patients are undergoing. This helps in avoiding patients’ experiences from affecting nurses emotionally to the extent of not being able to bond well with those they usually love.
Conclusion
Empathy in the nursing field though there earlier among numerous scholars lacked adequate backing and emphasis, is currently an inevitable trait that nurses ought to possess. Since, this is what...