Conveying compassion through attention to the essential ordinary.
OBJECTIVE
To discover some of the means by which nurses let older people know that they sense their suffering and are willing to try to relieve or at least reduce it.


METHODS
A purposive sample of seven nurses employed in long-term care in Canada was recruited by network sampling. Data from unstructured interviews and participant observations were analysed and themes identified.


RESULTS
The overarching theme identified was attention to the essential ordinary, with two sub-themes being 'attention to the little things' and 'keeping the promise to never abandon'.


CONCLUSIONS
Paying attention to the little things, and the resulting patient-centred approach that this care provided, seemed to send a message to patients that they had value. When nurses were able to enhance the esteem needs of patients in this way they also found meaning in their work and a sense of professional fulfilment.
Perry
Beth
B
Center for Nursing and Health Studies, Athabasca University, Edmonton, Canada.
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires