Compassion and caring in nursing
C Chambers and R Ryder (2009) • Oxon: Radcliffe Medical Press
Publication of this book is both timely and important. As the popular press and media publish and present ever more lurid tales of poor standards of care typified by a lack of dignity, the Government and various professional bodies make pronouncements on what is the 'essence' of care.
Fundamentally, one might reason that as 'compassion' derives from a Latin root meaning "to suffer with or feel pity for", the apparent lack of such sympathy - let alone the ability to recognise or understand it, or to empathise - means many nurses have lost, or never had, the most important quality or nature of what it is to care.
This book helps to address the issues of placing compassion into the core of nursing care. The six key concepts explored address ideas such as empathy and sensitivity, dignity and respect, diversity and cultural competence, empowerment, and advocacy.
What nursing is about
What may nowadays seem a list of New Politics buzzwords - dignity, for example, once was and should remain the key aspects of the care delivered before nurses had to be reminded this was not just some abstract idea or political ideal.
Theory is presented, but grounded in pragmatic reality - case studies and points for discussion allow readers to reflect upon their own circumstances. The individual reader can complete this reading and activity alone or could use it in a group situation - certainly the text lends itself to the nursing curricula and classroom application.
This is an interesting and informative read.