Harrowing Jean N
University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Online J Issues Nurs. 2011 Jan 31;16(1):5. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No01Man05.
Compassion is fundamental to ethical nursing practice; it represents a commitment to acknowledge and respond to the suffering of the patient. Many structural, economic, and sociopolitical challenges confront Ugandan nurses in their efforts to incorporate compassion into their care of persons with HIV illness. After reviewing the literature related to compassion fatigue, the author describes nursing in sub-Saharan Africa and presents a qualitative study exploring the impact of education on 24 nurses' lives, including their capacity to avoid or mitigate the development of compassion fatigue. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and focus group discussions. Findings illustrate the barriers participants faced in providing competent care and the liberating effects of new knowledge and skills. Engaging in meaningful relationships, maintaining hopeful attitudes, and advocating for the profession were found to transform and affirm the nurses' approach toward their work and enhance their experiences of compassion satisfaction. The author discusses the unique aspects of the experience of compassion among Ugandan nurses caring for persons with HIV illness.
同情心是合乎伦理的护理实践的根本；它体现了一种承认并回应患者痛苦的承诺。乌干达护士在努力将同情心融入对艾滋病毒感染者的护理工作中时，面临着许多结构、经济和社会政治方面的挑战。在回顾了与同情疲劳相关的文献后，作者描述了撒哈拉以南非洲地区的护理情况，并呈现了一项定性研究，该研究探讨了教育对24名护士生活的影响，包括她们避免或减轻同情疲劳发展的能力。数据通过访谈、观察和焦点小组讨论收集。研究结果说明了参与者在提供有效护理时所面临的障碍以及新知识和技能的解放作用。研究发现，建立有意义的人际关系、保持乐观态度以及为该职业发声能够改变并肯定护士对待工作的方式，并增强他们的同情满足感体验。作者讨论了乌干达护士在护理艾滋病毒感染者过程中同情心体验的独特之处。
