Date post: | 16-Jul-2015 |
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Healthcare |
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ObjectivesUpon completion, participants will be able to:
Explain compassion as it pertains to nursing
Explain why nurturing oneself is important for
the nurse
Describe 3 negative effects seen in the
workplace when the nurse is not self-nurtured
Describe 3 ways in which the nurse can
nurture herself/himself
List 2 barriers nurses may have to self-nurturing
Code of Ethics
“The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassionand respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.”
(ANA Code of Ethics, Provision 1)
What is compassion?
“Looking inward and outward…” (Turkel and Ray, 2004)
“…integrity that can reveal the path to personal excellence and outstanding social influence”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004)
“sorrow or pity for the sufferings of another person”
(www.thefreedictionary.com)
“Registered nurses have high
levels of compassion for others,
or they would not have become
registered nurses”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004).
But…
When we are struggling or
hurting, we don’t feel very
courageous or strong, so the
level of compassion we can
show to our patients will be
affected.
Taking care of everyone
except our own individual souls
leads to burnout, fatigue, hurtful
words and behaviors.
“The inability to care for self
frequently shows up as violence at
the workplace. One particularly
alarming area of practice that has
been discovered is horizontal
violence – where nurses … develop
destructive behaviors toward self and
other nurses, especially younger,
idealist nurses who are beginning
their professional journey” (Turkel and Ray, 2004).
“Emotional symptoms (of work stress) may include loss of self-
esteem, a sense of detachment, irritability, helplessness, and avoidance of co-workers”
(Brown, p. 76)
“Physical symptoms of work stress
may include fatigue, immune
system impairment, headaches,
insomnia, and heartburn”
(Brown, p. 76)
“Behavioral symptoms may
include tardiness, absenteeism,
missed meetings, drug and
alcohol use, and lack of
connection with others”
(Brown, p. 76)
The Value of Self-Renewal
“As self is renewed, personal and
professional commitments
become balanced and inner
energy is replenished”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004).
Develop your own plan of self-
care
Think about your visions, desires
and goals
Use days off for personal
renewal
Start the workday with a centering or relaxation ritual
Take breaks off the unit
Eat lunch off the unit
Meditation Room
“As role models for patients, co-
workers, and family members, nurses
lacking self-care may unintentionally
convey to others that health is not
valued”
(Connolly, Gulanick, Keough & Holm, 1997).
Barriers to Self-Care
Lack of time
Lack of knowledge
Lack of self-care skills
Lack of motivation(Brown, p. 76)
“As more nurses experience self-
renewal, they will be creating a
community of caring for self,
colleagues, patients, and visitors and
establishing deep personal
connections with each other”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004).
“Self-care highlights the
greatest asset of all –
the individual.
Self-care is critical to health and healing”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004).
A nurse who is holistic and
self-caring
can create harmony with others
through authentic presence
in the caring moment”
(Turkel and Ray, 2004).
ReferencesAmerican Nurses Association, Code of Ethics, www.nursingworld.org
Brown, C.J. (2009). Self-renewal in nursing leadership:
The lived experience of caring for self. Journal of
Holistic Nursing, 27 (2),75 – 84.
Compassion, www.thefreedictionary.com
ReferencesConnolly, M., Gulanick, M., Keough, V., & Holm, K. (1997). Health practices of critical care nurses: Are these nurses good role models for patients? American Journal of Critical Care, 6(4), 261-266.
Traverso, S., (2001). What is compassion? www.seedsofunfolding.com
Turkel, M.C. & Ray, M.A. (2004). Creating a caring practice environment through self-renewal. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 28 (4), 249-254.