Question

How can empathy improve the nurse/patient relationship? 150 words?

Answer 1

Empathy is the ability to feel with the patient while retaining the ability to critically analyze the situation.it is the ability to put oneself in another persons circumstances and feelings.The nurse need not necessarily have to experience it ,but has to be able to imagine the feelings associated with the experience. In empathy process the nurse recieves information from the patient with an open,non judgemental acceptance and communicates this understanding of the experience and feelings so that the patient feels understood.This serves as a basis for the relationship.Sympathy is often confused with empathy.In sympathy,the nurse actually feels what the patient feels but in the process objectivity is lost,and the nurse becomes focused on relief personal distress rather than on assisting tthe patient to resolve the problem.With empathy while understanding the patients thoughts and feelings,the nurse is able to maintain sufficient objectivity to allow the patient to achieve problem resolution with minimal assistance.

Empathy signifies a central focus and feeling with and in the patients world.

• it involves accurately percieving the patients situation,perspective and feelings.
• Communicatingones understanding to the patient and checking with the patient for accuracy.
• Acting on this understanding in a helpful way toward the patient.