what is compassion?
- sensitivity to pain and suffering of others
- having the desire to help those in need
what are compassionate responses?
empathy and sympathy
what is empathy?
- empathy is the ability to EMOTIONALLY and intellectually understand another person’s reality
- accurately understand unspoken feelings and can communicate this understand
what is sympathy?
understanding their reality but not… necessarily feeling what they are feeling
what is pity?
feeling coming from a place of “power”
feeling sorry for the person
what is respect?
feeling esteem towards someone
what is dignity?
- state or quality of being worth of honour or respect
- innate right to be valued and receive ethical treatment
how do you maintain a patient’s dignity?
- understanding their values
- understanding that the environment they are in will make them more vulnerable
- being aware of your attitude and behaviours no matter what
- identify the needs of your patient
- building personal bonds
what is autonomy?
- ability and responsibility of your OWN decisions
what is grief?
emotional response to loss of any kind (i.e. change in health, loss of independence, control, privacy, financial security, productivity, etc.)
what are the common components of grieving?
- period of shock, denial and disorganization
- period of extremes (pain, emotions)
- period of resolution, acceptance and reinvestment
What are the Kubler-Ross phases of grieving?
- denial
- anger
- bargaining
- depression
- acceptance
How does Bowlby describe grieving phases?
- numbness
- yearning and searching
- disorganization and despair
- reorganization
these phases, everyone will go through each. t/f
false. not all will experience all the phases
people can go from phase to phase in no orderly fashion. t/f
true
what is compassion fatigue?
combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion associated with caring for patients in significant emotional pain and physical distress
what are some symptoms of compassion fatigue?
- cynicism, exhaustion, restlessness, discouragement, difficulty concentration, desire to leave the field, reduced ability to feel empathy
how can you help someone deal with loss?
- silence
- gentle/reassuring touch if appropriate
- not denying their grief
- respecting how they cope with grief
- actively listen
