The qualities of a compassionate nurse according to the perceptions of medical-surgical patients.

Compassion is thought of as a nursing quality that impacts patient care. Research to describe compassion among nurses is nonexistent. In this study, the complexities of compassion, its effect on patient care, and the historical roots of compassion are explored. Attempts are made to measure levels of compassion rendered by the health care team, including physicians, physician's assistants, and nurses. This descriptive study is designed to explore the qualities of compassionate nurses as perceived by patients in medical-surgical units.