Can Compassion Be Taught? (A Substantive Theory on Imparting Compassion to Nursing Students)

Authors

  • Agnes Marie F. Austero Cebu Doctor's University
  • Daisy R. Palompon Cebu Normal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj1402.02.05

Keywords:

compassion, nursing education, theory development

Abstract

Compassion is essential to nursing practice. This study attempted to generate a
substantive theory on how compassion can be taught to nursing students. Key informants were selected based on the criterion that they are nurse educators. The key informants who participated in the study were mostly holder of a master’s degree in nursing and a teaching experience of at least 5 years. A Key Informant Interview (KII) was utilized using interview guide in obtaining the data needed for the study. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze and organize the data. The themes identified were: (1) compassion is relating with people, (2) role modeling is a common teaching strategy. Other themes
formulated were: (3) teaching compassion is facilitated by actual nurse / student-nurse-patient interaction, (4) influence of compassion is from people outside the nursing field, and (5) student attitude affects the inculcation of compassion. Teaching compassion in nursing school is influenced by nurse educators’ concept of compassion and students’ attitudes. It often occurs in the clinical area with an actual patient. The training of nursing students to become compassionate needs actual patient interaction. In order to facilitate teaching, nurse educators must reflect their own concept of compassion and for students
to show willingness and openness to embrace it as valuable in nursing practice.

Author Biographies

Agnes Marie F. Austero, Cebu Doctor's University

is a faculty of Cebu Doctors’ University College of Nursing. She graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of
Arts in Nursing major in Family Health Nursing in the same institution. She also graduated Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science in Statistics in Leyte State University (now Visayas State University). She is very interested in the fields of teaching, geriatric nursing, research, nursing informatics and statistics. In 2014, she started as a volunteer peer reviewer of the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is also an online freelancer specializing in smart re-pricing of products.

Daisy R. Palompon, Cebu Normal University

Daisy Regis Palompon, R.N. is the Director for Research and Development of the Cebu Normal University. Dr. Palompon finished her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Arts in Nursing (Medical-Surgical) degrees from CNU. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Social Science Research) degree from Leyte Normal University in Tacloban City, Philippines. Her experience in the academic community has been enriched by her numerous engagement to national and international research projects and publications. She is an active member of various professional and community organizations and a sought-after resource speaker in the country and abroad.

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Published

2014-02-28

How to Cite

Austero, A. M. F., & Palompon, D. R. (2014). Can Compassion Be Taught? (A Substantive Theory on Imparting Compassion to Nursing Students). Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj1402.02.05

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