Compassionate nursing care: Effects on recovery and well-being of medical-surgical patients

Compassion is the heart and soul of genuine nursing care. The basis of caring with love and compassion is the nurse’s affectionate and efficient nursing skills.  The purpose of this study was to identify the elements of compassionate care in nursing students assigned in the medical and surgical wards of a community hospital in Bulacan Province. This descriptive- qualitative study conducted in the medical and surgical wards proved the positive correlation between competent nursing care and sincere compassion toward the patients to promote healing. There is an urgent need of revisiting the nursing curriculum for greater relevance and improvement by integrating positive core values of compassion, love, and technical proficiency to encourage an empathetic, dedicated nursing personnel capable of delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Compassionate care requires responding to patient needs by understanding the physical, spiritual and emotional difficulties.  Compassion is a very important component of the provision of high-quality nursing care.