Empathy In Nursing Research Paper

Most of the nurses I know are pretty amazing. I think an important characteristic to have as a nurse is empathy. Empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, and being sensitive to the thoughts of another. Nurses should be empathetic rather than sympathetic; empathy allows a nurse to let patients verbalize their concerns and to provide feedback without taking on the family's grief. Empathy enables the nurse and patient to work together to achieve a goal of healing. In an attempt to understand the patient’s point of view, the nurse is able to recognize and provide either emotional or physical support. I think this helps to establish a working relationship of trust and the bond needed to work congruently