Revista de Enfermagem e Cuidados com o Paciente

Lack of Compassion in the Nursing Profession: How Patient Care is Compromised

Shannon N. Braucher

The art of compassionate nursing is a vital aspect to well-rounded, in-depth patient care. Becoming a part of the nursing field and losing empathy for individuals that are experiencing, more than likely, the most devastating and traumatic time of their lives is a problematic milestone that is often normalized within healthcare. Healthcare employees experiencing a compassion deficit within their practice must address this issue and correct it within him or her so that their current and future practice is not compromised. The healthcare industry has allowed the communities, in which they serve to become a source of ridicule and a burden, further romanticizing the loss of compassion from the provider’s point of view. Proper leadership within the advanced nursing role along with understanding of theoretical frameworks can assist in identification and correction of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) burnout and compassion fatigue.