Empathy In Nursing

2121 Words9 Pages
This paper will briefly discuss 3 core conditions associated with effective helping skills, empathy, genuineness and acceptance (unconditional positive regard). It will focus on empathy and critically discuss the condition, looking at how empathy affects the nurse-patient relationship as this is viewed as central to the delivery of care (Yu & Kirk 2008, Bonnie et al 2003). It will also discuss why effective communication skills are imperative in building a therapeutic nurse - patient relationship.

The significance of a therapeutic nurse- patient relationship is advocated within the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct. It states that nurses are responsible in developing and maintaining an appropriate relationship; advising that nurses must listen to the people in their care and respond to their concerns, “Make the care of people your first concern, treating them as individuals and respecting their dignity”, (NMC 2008).

Research demonstrates that there are many approaches to having effective relationships that can bring significant change (Hill and Kellems 2002). One is the clients’ motivation; another is the presence of a person who can offer a relationship that displays acceptance/unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness (Rogers as cited in McLeod 2003). As described by McLeod (2003), Rogers three core conditions are indispensable in facilitating change and are used in most health care disciplines. The use of empathy, unconditional positive regards and acceptance is important and if used correctly can achieve positive outcomes, assisting the nurse-patient relationship (McQueen 2000). Interestingly Rodgers (as cited by Wilkins 2001) emphasised when discussing the characteristics of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, the three core conditions are hard to separate from one another as to communicate

More about Empathy In Nursing

Open Document