Beyond empathy: expanding expressions of caring.
In this paper, a model describing nurses' responses to patients who are suffering is presented. The nurse's level of engagement with the patient is affected by whether the caregiver is focused on him-/herself or on the sufferer (i.e. embodied with the patient) and whether the caregiver is responding reflexively or with a learned response. Four types of communication patterns are identified: engaged responses (first-level) are used in a connected relationship; when the nurse responses reflexively and is focused on him-/herself, the response is reflected; when the caregiver is patient-focused, a learned response is labelled a professional response; and a self-focused, learned response is labelled detached. Examples of each type of response are provided.
Morse
J M
JM
School of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
Bottorff
J
J
Anderson
G
G
O'Brien
B
B
Solberg
S
S
D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards