Self-compassion in nursing: An evolutionary concept analysis

ABSTRACT

@#COVID-19 pandemic gives a new meaning to self-compassion thinking. Nurses in various fields or settings (e.g., hospital, CoViD19 isolation facility, community) provide care to patients and families who may be suffering and traumatized from the ongoing disease outbreak. Thus, it is necessary to illuminate the concept of self-compassion to respond to the holistic needs of the nurses who are at risk of developing compassion fatigue and burnout. This paper aims to examine the concept of self-compassion as it relates to nursing using simplified Rodgers' (2010) evolutionary concept analysis. Rodger's evolutionary concept analysis is an inductive method of analysis wherein concepts are viewed to develop over time and are highly influenced by the context in which they are used. The data source was a search of literature published from 2010-2020 on CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition. The sifting process is utilized to ensure a comprehensive electronic database search. This evolutionary concept analysis found four attributes of self-compassion in nursing mindful attention, self-mastery, selfkindness, and shared humanity. Regarding the antecedents of self-compassion, it is necessary to experience suffering, an event, or a traumatic encounter. Consequently, these may result in compassionate care, positive well-being, and quality nursing care. In the nursing context, compassion toward self has been seen to subtle. During the continually evolving Covid-19 pandemic, nurses must be empowered to continuously envisage self-compassion in their daily practice. Frequent practice of compassion towards self can potentially appreciate this way of being in the nursing discipline and the patients, families, or communities for which nurses compassionately care for and serve.