Components of Compassionate Care in Nurses Working in the Cardiac Wards: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Introduction: Compassion is the essence and the core of nursing care. Nurse’s affectionate and emotional work leads to many caring behaviours that are considered to be the basis of caring with kindness. The purpose of this study was to describe the components of compassion care in nurses working in the cardiac ward.

Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted in the medical and surgical cardiac wards of the selected hospital affiliation to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2020- 2021. The participants were 36 nurses, 20 patients and 8 family members that selected using purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted through, in-depth semi-structured interviews; focus group discussions, and the field notes. Data analysis was carried out using the qualitative content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.

Results: The results of this study are presented in one main category, four sub categories including “using verbal and non-verbal language to express feelings”, “doing empathy activities”, “organizing patient-centered care”, and “adhering to the cultural context”, and twelve sub- sub categories.

Conclusion: The patient-centered emotional discourse is the main issue in shaping the compassion care in nurses. Nursing managers can have a significant role in achieving care with affection by preparing appropriate work environment, paying attention to lack of nursing staff, ensuring the principles defined in compassion care, and supporting nursing staff. Teaching the concept of compassion, patient-centered care in the clinical setting are among the most important issues that should be considered.