Registered Nurses’ Characteristics and Their Levels of Compassion Competence and Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Introduction Although registered nurses are expected to treat patients with care and compassion, a variety of characteristics may influence their ability to express compassion. Objectives (1) To assess registered nurses’ level of compassion competence and compassion satisfaction, and; (2) to explore...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Nursing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608251367257 |
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| Summary: | Introduction Although registered nurses are expected to treat patients with care and compassion, a variety of characteristics may influence their ability to express compassion. Objectives (1) To assess registered nurses’ level of compassion competence and compassion satisfaction, and; (2) to explore how individual-level, employment-related, and organization-level characteristics are associated with their level of compassion competence and compassion satisfaction. Methods Registered nurses working in any practice setting in Ontario, Canada, completed a cross-sectional electronic survey of valid and reliable measures. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to address study objectives. Results One hundred eighty-one registered nurses participated. Most identified as female ( n = 157; 96.3%), Caucasian ( n = 144; 88.3%), and completed baccalaureate training as their highest level of education ( n = 80; 50.6%). Participants’ average compassion competence score was higher than average (4.18 on a 5-point scale), and most participants ( n = 171, 98.3%) reported moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction. Compassion satisfaction was the only significant predictor of compassion competence, which indicated a positive relationship ( β = 0.344, p < .001). Compassion competence was among a variety of significantly positive predictors of compassion satisfaction ( β = 0.652, p < .001). The other positive significant predictors of compassion satisfaction were higher than baccalaureate education ( β = 0.363, p < .001), full-time work status ( β = 0.253, p = .012), working in organizations with greater compassion practices ( β = 0.114, p = .005), and organizations with higher climate for change ( β = 0.292, p < .001). Conclusions Study findings illuminate varying degrees of significance for individual-level, employment-related, and organization-level characteristics and how these predict registered nurses’ levels of compassion. These distinctions have important implications for intervention development and future research in understanding compassionate care among nurses. |
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| ISSN: | 2377-9608 |