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NURTURING SELF-COMPASSION: A STRATEGY FOR EASING DEPRESSION IN NURSING STUDENTS

Dr. Yuki Nakamura·Keiko Tanaka, RN·Professor Hiroshi Sato
Published 06 December 2024
Vol. 11, No. 2 (2024)
pp. 37-48
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Dr. Yuki Nakamura
    School of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Reiwa Health Sciences University, Japan
    JP
  2. 2
    Keiko Tanaka, RN
    Department of Nursing, Faculty of Fukuoka Medical Technology, Teikyo University, Japan
    JP
  3. 3
    Professor Hiroshi Sato
    Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan
    JP

Amid the increasing demand for healthcare professionals, nurses are at the forefront, facing elevated turnover rates. The emotional labor inherent in nursing, coupled with the strains of everyday life, often leads to empathy fatigue, a significant contributor to nurse burnout. Nurses' prolonged interactions with patients and their inherent empathy may stem from their perception of the ideal nurse, which is rooted in their undergraduate education. Self-compassion, the ability to treat oneself with kindness and compassion, has emerged as a vital skill for preserving nurses' mental health. This study delves into the role of self-compassion in nursing, emphasizing its three facets: self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-compassion has shown promise in reducing negative emotions, catastrophic thinking, depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare professionals, promoting mental well-being. Recognizing the potential for self-compassion to mitigate empathy fatigue and burnout among nurses is crucial. In light of the global demand for healthcare workers, this research explores the critical role of self-compassion in maintaining nurses' mental health, offering potential strategies for fostering this self-kindness within the nursing community.

JournalColumbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing
ISSN2998-8179
Volume / IssueVol. 11, No. 2 (2024)
Pages37-48
Published06 December 2024
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Nakamura, D., RN , K., Sato, P. (2024). NURTURING SELF-COMPASSION: A STRATEGY FOR EASING DEPRESSION IN NURSING STUDENTS. Columbia Journal of Health Education and Nursing, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 37-48

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