Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care

Compassion and empathy are foundational to nursing education, influencing patient outcomes and fostering holistic care. Despite their critical role, integrating these values into curricula often encounters challenges, such as limited standardisation, institutional constraints, and the difficulty of...

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Main Author: Tiago Horta Reis da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1347
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author Tiago Horta Reis da Silva
author_facet Tiago Horta Reis da Silva
author_sort Tiago Horta Reis da Silva
collection DOAJ
description Compassion and empathy are foundational to nursing education, influencing patient outcomes and fostering holistic care. Despite their critical role, integrating these values into curricula often encounters challenges, such as limited standardisation, institutional constraints, and the difficulty of assessing emotional competencies. This article critically explores these challenges and presents a structured framework to embed compassionate pedagogy into nursing education. Key contributions include the application of experiential learning techniques, such as simulation-based scenarios, reflective practice using structured tools like the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, and the integration of the NURSE framework to enhance empathetic communication. The article also highlights the role of faculty as emotional intelligence role models and the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in fostering a culture of compassion. By addressing gaps in current practices and offering innovative strategies, this work provides actionable insights for curriculum developers, educators, and policymakers aiming to cultivate patient-centred care in nursing and beyond.
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spelling doaj-art-b5dbf84151e54955948ea1793675db972025-08-20T02:07:01ZengAssociation for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education1759-667X2025-06-013610.47408/jldhe.vi36.1347Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred careTiago Horta Reis da Silva0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5220-1718King's College LondonCompassion and empathy are foundational to nursing education, influencing patient outcomes and fostering holistic care. Despite their critical role, integrating these values into curricula often encounters challenges, such as limited standardisation, institutional constraints, and the difficulty of assessing emotional competencies. This article critically explores these challenges and presents a structured framework to embed compassionate pedagogy into nursing education. Key contributions include the application of experiential learning techniques, such as simulation-based scenarios, reflective practice using structured tools like the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, and the integration of the NURSE framework to enhance empathetic communication. The article also highlights the role of faculty as emotional intelligence role models and the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration in fostering a culture of compassion. By addressing gaps in current practices and offering innovative strategies, this work provides actionable insights for curriculum developers, educators, and policymakers aiming to cultivate patient-centred care in nursing and beyond. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1347compassionempathynursing educationcurriculum development
spellingShingle Tiago Horta Reis da Silva
Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
compassion
empathy
nursing education
curriculum development
title Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
title_full Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
title_fullStr Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
title_full_unstemmed Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
title_short Integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education: enhancing patient-centred care
title_sort integrating compassion and empathy into nursing education enhancing patient centred care
topic compassion
empathy
nursing education
curriculum development
url https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1347
work_keys_str_mv AT tiagohortareisdasilva integratingcompassionandempathyintonursingeducationenhancingpatientcentredcare