Can compassion be taught?
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Can compassion be taught?
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There's been a lot in the news recently about compassion in healthcare, and inparticularly the lack of it in nursing. I should think many doctors and nurses will be peeved about the media reports abou
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Forums » Off duty » News & media » Can compassion be taught?
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Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 9:14 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1451
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
There's been a lot in the news recently about compassion in healthcare, and inparticularly the lack of it in nursing. I should think many doctors and nurses will be peeved about the media reports about how there needs to be more compassion, when the majority see a large part of their job as being compassionate and caring about the patient's interests. http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20583115 Nursing seems to be getting a rough time from politicians and the media - with claims that the profession is not compassionate enough. Critics will point to cuts to the nursing workforce and ever demanding schedules and admin. There is now a big drive to try and instil compassion as a focal part of care - but can this be taught? Or is it the sheer demand of the job making it difficult to provide care which meets the expectations of patients and politicians? |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 9:53 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1271
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
I'm not sure compassion can be taught but it can be learned. But, by the same token, it can also be killed. It must be hard for anyone to maintain their own compassion when no-one seems to be compassionate towards them. Workloads are ever-increasing, pensions are slashed and terms and conditions of service are erroded. Couple this with a hostile media, a legal profession "chasing ambulances", health managers ready to jump down the throat of anyone guilty of whatever perceived mistake or misdemenour and uncaring political rulers and it's not hard to see why sometimes, somewhere compassion might take a back seat. |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 12:45 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Compassion is not to be taught but is an 'acquired' sense of feeling of humanity or how we are involved psychologically with the patients while treating them. The more sincerely we treat the patients, the more we do get involved in them. |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 1:58 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1451
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Couple of tweets from Lancet editor Richard Horton, this morning:  richard horton (@richardhorton1)04/12/2012 08:09 Nursing will thrive if, and only if, other health professions treat nursing as an equal partner in delivery of care. At present we do not. richard horton (@richardhorton1)04/12/2012 08:14 Part of the problem is the failure by medicine/medical science to recognise fully the contribution nursing/nursing science makes to care. |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 2:19 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1271
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 23/5/2013 |
Sadly Matthew I now ignore Richard and The Lancet after his disgraceful attack in an editorial about GPs and the nGMS contract. Basically I think he talks mince (just as he is doing here - making wild and unsubstantiated generalisations) and has nothing useful to say. What he says here does not reflect my experience at all - either now or in the past (and my late wife was a nurse who never said that she was treated like this by the medical profession as a whole). Sorry. Nursing will thrive if, and only if, other health professions treat nursing as an equal partner in delivery of care. At present we do not - where's the evidence for this statement? Part of the problem is the failure by medicine/medical science to recognise fully the contribution nursing/nursing science makes to care - where's the evidence for this statement? |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 2:35 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 537
First: 6/9/2012 Last: 24/5/2013 |
You need a work-place culture in which compassion is thriving. Sadly, this is sometimes forgotten. About nurses (and doctors) lacking compassion, I guess we would all have stories to tell. It is also very important to respect each other - and not try to encourage rivalry. Remember it is likely that every one of us will be a patient at some time of his/her life... |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 4/12/2012 11:50 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 24
First: 3/8/2010 Last: 4/12/2012 |
We usually look outside of ourselves for that, that is so very much personal to us - compassion. We long to see it in those above us and those below us, in our collegues and in our managers. We expect others to demonstrate compassion in their dealings with us and with their patients. We think that it is about the relationship with others. We say: "how can one be compassionate in the world without compassion?" In fact our compassion has very little to do with others. I believe that compassion has everything to do with our relationship with ourselves. It is about knowing who we truly are and what we stand for. It is about relating to who we are and expressing it in our life. It is us who is the source of compassion and until we understand that we will never have enough of it in our world. I don't believe that having compassion is absolute or can be constant. And knowing this, knowing my imperfections, knowing my human attributes allows me to be more compassionate. In my opinion, teaching mechanics of compassion is as good as treating the symptoms. If we want to have a real change, we need to treat the cause. We need to go deeper. We need to take time to get to know ourselves. Truly know ourselves. And when we do. When we are able to treat ourselves with tenderness and respect, we might be ready to help others.
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 5/12/2012 12:07 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3
First: 13/11/2012 Last: 5/12/2012 |
hi thanks for hosting this wonderful thread of conversation. I believe that compassion can be taught, and learned, but more importantly practices, which is the key ot both these activities. It's kind of like how the saying goes "Happiness is the path to happiness". Perhaps this sounds trite - but i can fully understand the wisdom - I wonder what others think? So in the same vein I concur with what Beata Salter says - compassion really must start from within, with compassion to oneself. Self love after all allows love to others. I don't believe this is the same as selfishness. If we develop the ability to look after our own needs, "whilst", we are aware of our surroundings and others - perhaps this is the key? Our training systems are not very conducive to this. I myself have had quite a varied journey and suffered at the helm of "enjoy yourself later" - "get results at all costs" . Despite this I always looked aftermyself and was able to share this kindness to others, but it started with kindness to self. This is what I have come to realise in more recnet times when such self kindness was starting to diminish under the pressures of looming PhD deadlines. "Compassionate Health Education" is the dream I have, to connect others in the profession who believe that "compassion" could underpin all other principles of education, and not be an 'optional extra'. I appreciate that there are many styles of teaching - and trust me, after doing surgical training, i've been exposed to many, firmness is sometimes necessary - but I believe that we have sometimes seen good results in education despite a lack of compassion, but not "because" of it. For all who are interested in this topic I would recommend a book called "compassion in medicine" which I've written a brief review on here:-- thanks for listening :) |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 5/12/2012 1:20 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2951
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 25/5/2013 |
You cannot teach compassion. You copy it. For some it is innate. For others it is alien eg smiling psychopaths and narcissists. It cannot be faked. Quality Assurance Indicators and people with clipboards cannot induce compassion. Compassion fatique means you need a holiday. Virtue is contagious but not very. The seed has to have the right soil. |
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Re: Can compassion be taught?
posted at 5/12/2012 2:53 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 42
First: 25/1/2012 Last: 25/4/2013 |
Compassion is different from pity or just kindness.It comes about when one realises the fragility of life;-not necessarily human,but all forms of life.It is a spiritual transformation and cannot be taught in the classroom.It is actually a journey into self knowledge,and when one acquires it;-one has achieved the pinnacle of human development. |
Forums » Off duty » News & media » Can compassion be taught?
