Compassion in Practice Nursing - Essay Example

?Background Clinical nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on individual’s care, families’ care and communities’ care so thatthey may attain, maintain or recover optimal health and life quality. The nurses can be differentiated from the health care providers on the basis of their approach utilized for caring the patients. As the occupation of nurses is different from health care providers, therefore, they have a different scope of doing work and have a different mode for practice. Nurses have wide diverse areas of their practice with a different scope and different level of prescriber authority in each of the departments or areas. Mostly nurses provide care to the patients under the orders or supervision of the physicians and this traditional role has given nurses an image of care providers. However, most of the jurisdictions have permitted the nurses to work independently depending on the settings of their training level. But during the postwar period, the nursing education has been diversified towards advanced and specialized credentials, and this has brought change in many traditional regulations and roles of the care providers (Cornwell and Goodrich, 2009). Being a profession, the main motive of the nursing community in all over the world is to ensure the best care for all, while maintaining their credentials, standards, code of ethics, competencies and continuity of their professional education. There are many educational paths which lead to a professional nurse. However, it is pertinent to mention here that the nursing courses are different in overall the world; it involves extensive study about the theory of nursing and practice as well as training in the clinics. A professional nurse cares for people of all age groups and cultural backgrounds who are healthy and ill in a specific manner based on the person’s physical, emotional, psychological, mental, social and spiritual needs. This profession combines physical science, nursing theory and requisite technology required in caring the patients. Moreover, the transition from a student to a professional nurse is exigent due to various elements include: lack of practical experience, extraordinary expectations of the hospital and insufficient staffing in a hospital. Introduction The objectives and aim of the research paper titled “Care and compassion: the experiences of newly qualified staff nurses” written by Dorothy Horsburgh and Janis Ross (2012) is to review existing procedures being utilized by the nurses in the provision of care to the patients. Moreover, the awareness of the newly appointed nurses regarding the compassionate care and utilization of factors facilitates achieving the objective of the nurses. In order to achieve the objective of the research paper, the authors have utilized qualitative approach and in this regard, a group of forty two (42) newly recruited nurses was selected. Diverse trends, themes and codes were detected and observed, after a though analysis on the data gained from the selected nurses. It was identified by the authors that the newly recruited staff nurses have diverse and miscellaneous rather systematic views, opinions and concepts. And ultimately, the authors realized an apprehension between the individual’s (nurse) ability to act and the working environment (cultural, communal, physical, managerial, and social) at which the nurses provide care to the patients (Horsburgh, and Ross, 2013). Moreover, it was derived by the authors that the supportive working environment influences the efficiency and performance of the nurses in a positive manner for delivering compassionate care (Lombardo and Eyre, 2011). This document provides a thorough review of the above introduced research paper and the background of the nursing profession. Moreover, a framework utilized for qualitatively critiquing the research paper is presented by the Frances Ryan, Michael Coughlan and Patricia Cronin (2007). The research paper highlights certain questions which are required to be answered have been discussed in this paper. The document proceeds with a critical critique and analysis of the above mentioned research paper. The purpose of the critical analysis and critique of the research paper is to evaluate the paper and the author’s argument to know the grounds and facts that the author represented in the paper. In this report I have critically looked at the research paper that what the author is claiming. I have evaluated the research paper using qualitative research paper evaluating method while highlighting the areas includes: the elements convincing believability and robustness of the research paper (Ryan, Coughlan and Cronin, 2007). I have looked for the possible problems within the research paper. I have read the introduction to find out the overview of the main point of the author and how he defends his point. The aim and objective of this research paper is to explore the latest experienced nurses and perceptions of compassionate care and all such factors that ease and hinder its delivery. Questions for Critiquing the Research Paper There are certain questions required to be answered while reviewing, analyzing and critiquing a research paper. Based on the answers of the questions, the paper is analyzed and these questions include the following: Does the author pass-through from the previous studies? Is the title is according to the aim and subject to the paper? What type of research was used, either it is an empirical study, anecdotal material or personal observations? What is the sample? Has the work been useful? What are the findings? Is the writing is clear and accurate to follow? Are visuals being authentic or useful or not for example tables, charts, maps and photographs? How these visuals help to illustrate the argument? Are these visuals confusing or hard to read? How can be this study improved? What is the objective of the study? Read the statement of purpose in the abstract. Does it match that in the introduction? Are the sequences of the statements in the introduction are appropriate? Is all the information directing to the objective of the study? Review all methods in association for the purpose of study. Are these research methods are valid for evaluating the problem? Is the experimental design being appropriate? Identify the sequence of the statements in the method? Is the discussion is merely repeating the results? Is there already a published research on this topic? Interpret the discussion? What are the directions of future research? Has the author suggested further work? Review the abstract. Does it accurately summarize the entire research paper? Check the structure of the paper. Is all the relevant or present material is organized under the appropriate heading? Are these sections subdivided logically into subsections or paragraphs? Analyze the author’s thinking and writing style. Does the author present this research logically and clearly? It is vital to state here that some of the above questions have already been answered in this document that include but not limited to the objective, aim, findings, clarity, usefulness, research methodology and results of the research paper. Moreover, the authors Dorothy and Janis have not got the specific literature regarding the topic but they have concerned the previous studies. They use the theoretical study in the research methods. They have asked some research questions that how nurses of NQ perceive compassionate care and what are the factors that facilitate and inhibits its delivery. Elements Influencing Believability of the Research Paper One of the vital services of the nurses or the health care providers expected by the public is the ‘compassionate care’. However, the usage of the computers, machines and the administrative tasks of the nurses is a part of modern nurses’ daily routine, but it is claimed that these things have distracted them from being compassionate care providers. Compassion and Nursing The relationship between compassion and nursing is since the origination nursing as a profession. The increase in the power of technology has been witnessed by the society, and this appears to be reflected in nursing, where care delivery is not given priority on the technical and managerial aspects of care. There is a need of debate to show that what actually constitutes compassion, how it can be noticed in the applicants of nursing and how it can be developed in the student nurses. On the basis of the discussion, it is pertinent to explore the conditions that promote compassion in nursing (Cummings, 2012). Identifying and Measuring Compassion The responsibility of identifying applicants for the nurse education programs who are compassionate, or have the potential of becoming compassionate is being done by the educators. This creates a problem because exactly which thing makes compassion is yet not been discovered, and identification of evidence for compassion in applicants is a difficult task. To see that an applicant is compassionate or not can be sought from the application form on which the statements about caring is written, or is possibly provided by the referee. Even if we have the selected candidates who possess the necessary qualities has no guarantee that at the end of the pre-registration course they will keep those qualities. It is possible that during educational programs, informal curriculum may influence the students’ values (Bradshaw, 2009). Statements of Phenomenon of Interest In both clinical and environments of formal education the teachers and mentors convey their own values and usually it is thought that these influences will be negative, which will lead to the ‘compassion fatigue’ or exhausted. This problem is thought to occur as a result from the exposure to the professional life realities and problems occurring in meeting with the patients’ needs while coping with the demands of the managers and service. Apart from the difficulties faced in recognition and development of compassion in applicants and students, there are also many difficulties; we can say dangers in measuring compassion shown by the nurses (Haroon, 2012). The penalty of measuring the compassion should seriously be taken under consideration before any attempt is made to judge the nurses because compassion is seen as a part of being a human. If a tool for the measurement of compassion shows that this team of nurses lack compassion, this show that they lack a basic human quality, which could have specific negative consequences for single team member (Harrowing, 2011). Professional Compassion Level Assessment of student nurses is done on their ability to provide compassionate care during clinical practice. Compassion with the care and communication as an important skill that provide a tribute to the abilities of student nurses are needed to achieve to register. Student nurses need to provide capable and intimate care, take care of patients like partners and in an imposing manner, provide care without any difference in an affectionate, responsive and compassionate way (Mulhall, n.d). It looks completely suitable for a caring-based regulation such as nursing to identify the basic components that are needed for professional practice. The main problem is that in the absence of clear behaviors and characteristics that are accepted as dependable indicators of compassion, mentors work hard to make decisions about what makes compassion in the nurses of the next generation (Marit and Heggen, 2004). The difficulty faced by the mentors which is common to all the nurses of deciding that what is compassion actually, and so their judgment about the appropriateness of student nurses to join the register can be affected by the biased views about compassion in performance. Nurses who are registered are guided by the code of conduct that says that they should respect ones receiving care from them. The concept of self-respect, like compassion, is conceptual and it is difficult to measure it (Pearcey, n.d). However, compassion is a central part of dignity and nurses’ compassion plays the main role in giving respectful care to patients. Patients van retains and maintains their dignity by compassionate care. Sample Evaluation I have evaluated the sampling used in the research paper. In this study the participants were enrolled via the tenacity sampling. They have taken the relevant data from all the staff nurses having registration of one year. There are seven (7) focus groups and there are forty two (42) participants included in the sample. The sample size is accurate. It is not much greater and not much smaller. There is no problem with the sample size or in composition or in the way the sample was gathered in proportion to the objective of the study. There are participants of only one sex. The age in the sample is not confirmed. As there is no special literature that explore the NQ staff nurses experiences associated to the compassion or compassionate care so the qualitative approach is accurate. The process affected greatly by the milieu of delivery and needs understanding within the personal relationships is called caring. The aim of our study was the exploration of views of each other in FG settings. The process involves views of participants with others worked well, actually without hesitation (Davison and Williams, 2009). Actually, a large degree of agreement is possible to surmise then may have really existed. We should not underrate the professed pressure to agree with overriding opinion. However, the views of the participants were not delivered in a firm way, and in both the groups one person was specifically verbal. The strength of data was more, for example, interviews of the participants were due to exploration of, and extension on, each other’s participation. It was problematic sometimes to make sure that the participants remained ‘on the track’ without the intrusion of the spur. In future we will not take upon a FG study hold with eleven members as this did not helped members in having the chance to contribute to the limit they did in all other groups. Possessions on the transferability is not made provided that our research took place in a specific health board and that no study has been done to identify whether the findings reverberate with non qualified nurses in different areas. These throw light on the viewpoints of the participants in relation to the non qualified status and their commencement of compassionate care. In the previous decade findings has supported literature that indicated that the registration of nurse is stressful. In this review paper, the comparison is done with the Maben et al. Maben et al.’s study for the first two years post registration. Findings of ours showed that most of the participants stayed what Maben et al. said ‘sustained idealists’. Information from this study was being in accord with those of the review systematic which was conducted by Higgins that found out that the alternation of registration was very challenging and stressful; lack of support was one cause for the non qualified nurses of staff (Schantz, 2007). People who participated in our research saw the alternation from student to staff nurse intimidating and, for some, harrowing. In their new role the support for them was assorted other than structured, negative attitude and behavior of some participants from staff that brought change of a minor nature was discouraging (Tweddell, 2007). Research Methodology The theoretical study interprets the symbolic interactionism. This proposes that the pupils will react to the things that act in the direction of the material and persons that they come upon in a way that accords with the sense that these things clamp for them. The social interaction learned and developed the meaning. The meanings are handled, deduced and exposed to review and likely alterations by individuals after a while. The active participants are the individuals that help in creating meaning in any given case. The research methods are the focus group that states that the focus group is the group discussion because the researcher is actively encouraging and attentive to the group interaction (Ryan, Coughlan and Cronin, 2007). In these research methods the discussions are related exact to the definite topic and the data are copied in the collaboration between members. The research is carried out by following the query method too. The authors have taken the interviews of the staff nurses having registration of one year for finding the factors that inhibit or facilitate the delivery. The work has highly influences the importance of nursing. They highlight the care and compassion. The work is useful in sense to provide information about caring of nurses and the compassion. By reading this research paper one can come across to the factors that plays role in nursing facilities and inhibition of the delivery. The authors have successfully explained their arguments by discussion (Corbin, 2008). The writing is somewhat tough but one can understand the purpose by repeating the analysis again and again. It is arranged in a well mannered way easy to follow the directions. The research paper also contains tables that is useful for judging the number of focusing group and number of participants. But there is only a single table. The research paper should include more tables, charts, photographs and diagrams for the explanation. The arguments can be clearly explained via these visuals. Conclusion The study can be improved if the author’s used to include the Proformas in the present study. They should include the Performa of questionnaires inside the research paper so that the readers come to know that what questions the researcher has asked the nurses staff and other participants. In findings, the six themes are emerging. These follow the iterative analysis of the required data from the focus groups. Whilst it is found that these six themes overlapped each other if we will put light on the purpose of the study. They can be treated as discrete entities. The structure of the report is well organized and all the headings are appropriate. The relevant information is presented under these headings. The sequence is arranged. There are headings and main headings too. The writing style is as according to the medical and research style. The references are well given. The research paper is well reflected the author’s thinking and both of the writers greatly and clearly present their aim of research. There are already several research works that are published related to this topic. The title accurately matches the subject of the introduction but it can be better related to the aim of the study. The statement of the goal is appropriately related to the introduction. The abstract is accurately encloses the subject of the research paper. It presents the whole research paper in a well mannered way. The future recommendations are that the topic should be more highlighted as the nursing has great importance as much as the other profession. So the other researchers should appreciate this research paper and should focus on the practices and care of nurses. The results also show that the practices of the nurses are very important. Reference List Bradshaw, 2009. ‘Measuring nursing care and compassion: the McDonaldised nurse? J Med Ethics. 35: 465 - 468. Corbin, J., 2008. Is caring a lost art in nursing? International Journal of Nursing Studies; 45, 163-165. Cornwell, J., and Goodrich, J. 2009. ‘Exploring how to enable compassionate care in hospital to improve patient experience’. [online] Available at [Accessed at 12th Nov 2013] Cummings, J., 2012. ‘Compassion in Practice nursing, midwifery and care staff our vision and strategy’. Review of Department of Health. Davison, N., and Williams, K. 2009. Compassion in nursing 2: factors that influence compassionate care in clinical practice .Nursing Times. 105: 37 Haroon, S., 2012. ‘Nurses told to focus on compassionate care’. [online] Available at [Accessed at 11th Nov 2013] Harrowing, J., 2011. "Compassion Practice by Ugandan Nurses Who Provide HIV Care" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 16 Horsburgh, D., and Ross, J., 2013. Care and compassion: the experiences of newly quali?ed staff nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 1124–1132 Lombardo, B., and Eyre, C., 2011. "Compassion Fatigue: A Nurse’s Primer" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 16 Marit H. H., and Heggen, K., 2004. ‘Is compassion essential to nursing practice? Contemporary Nurse. 17: 19 - 31 Mulhall, A., n.d. Nursing research: our world not theirs? J AdvNurs 1997;25:969–76. Pearcey, P. A., n.d. Achieving research based nursing practice. J. AdvNurs 1995;22:33–9 Ryan, F., Coughlan, M., and Cronin, P., 2007. Step-by-step guide to critiquing research. Part 2: qualitative research. British Journal of Nursing.16, 12, 738-744Schantz, M., 2007. Compassion: a concept analysis. Nursing Forum; 42: 2, 48-55. Tweddell, L., 2007. Compassion on the curriculum. Nursing Times; 103: 38, 18-19. Read More