Self-compassion in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nursing care is considered a compassionate act, and compassion and empathy for others in any form requires compassion for oneself. This study was done to clarify the concept of self-compassion in nursing. Methods: This study was conducted according to Walker and Avant's concept analysis approach. An extensive search and review of texts was conducted in the Scopus, Medline, ProQuest, Web of Science, PubMed, Magiran, SID, and Google Scholar databases, as well as the Oxford medical dictionary, with the help of the keywords "self-compassion," "compassion," "compassionate care," "self-forgiveness," and "self-perception" between 2010 and 2022. Based on the inclusion criteria, 10 texts containing the defining features of the concept were extracted from it. Results: Self-compassion comprises being open, going along with one's sufferings, experiencing a sense of care and kindness towards oneself, adopting a non-judgmental attitude with understanding one's inadequacies and failures, and recognizing that one's experience is a part of human experience. Conclusion: The results of the concept analysis in this study can provide an objective and comprehensible picture of self-compassion in nursing and be used as a practical step for training, strengthening, measuring, and finally developing this concept to provide quality and safe nursing services by nurses.

Keywords

• self-compassion
• psychology
• nursing