An Introduction to Compassion in Healthcare Practice identifies the core components of being compassionate and self-compassionate, so that we may be in a better position to attend to our health and to engage in helping others. The foundation of this book is that if we have an intention to help, we are best served by understanding what ‘helping’ really means. This is addressed by reviewing compassion in a range of contexts and environments, including through an evolutionary science perspective. In this view, we are ‘programmed’ to be compassionate - but social forces may throw challenges or obstacles in our way. Also covered in this text are the challenges associated with being compassionate to the self, as well as care encounters with individuals in a clinical context and working in a clinical team.
Some of the ideas explored in An Introduction to Compassion in Healthcare Practice include: - Artificial intelligence (AI) and compassion, covering ethical theories for AI alongside considerations surrounding consent and the role of touch- The role of mindfulness in self-compassion, the challenges and benefits of self-compassion, perfectionism, our “inner critic”, and shame- Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) in teamwork, lessons in developing compassionate teams, and the theory of Values-Based Practice- Components of compassion-focused leadership and supervision, and the development of self-efficacy and competence
Providing a core conceptual framework for compassion in healthcare with guidance on how to explore various topics in greater depth, An Introduction to Compassion in Healthcare Practice is an essential reference for undergraduate nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, medical practitioners, and students in related programs of study.
Table of Contents
Preface xi
Biography xv
Acknowledgments xvii
Chapter 1 A Compassion Primer 1
Introduction 1
What is Compassion? 3
Compassion as an Emotion 4
Compassion as a State or a Trait? 5
Compassion as a Motivation 5
The Threat System 6
The Drive System 6
Safeness System 6
Attributes of Compassion 8
Care for Wellbeing 9
Sensitivity 9
Sympathy 10
Empathy 10
Approaching People in a Non-judgemental Manner 11
Tolerance of Distress 12
Engaging with Compassionate Attributes 12
Our Evolutionary Biology 13
The Biological Basis of Compassion 14
Evolution of the Brain 15
The Science of Compassion 15
Compassion in the Arts 17
What Is the Price of Experience? 17
Summary 18
References 20
Chapter 2 Compassion for the Environment: The Consequences for Health Workers and Patients (with Jess Bunn) 25
Complexity and Complex Adaptive Systems 26
Exercise 27
Compassion at the Macro Level: The Global Environment 29
What Are the Compassionate Responses We Can Take? 30
Compassion for the Environment 31
Compassion at the Meso Level: The Ward/ Team/Practice Environment 32
The IoM Core Competencies 36
Compassion at the Micro Level: The Person Orientated Practice Environment 36
Interoception and Neuroception 36
Digging Deeper Into Polyvagal Theory 38
How Does This Play Out in the Nervous System? 38
Developing our Compassionate Practice Environment 39
Case Studies 40
References 42
Chapter 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Compassion - Can You Have Compassionate AI? (with Dr Michael Rowe) 47
Introduction 47
What is the Role of Compassion in AI? 49
Ethics and AI 50
An Overview of Ethical Theories for AI 50
Utilitarianism 50
Deontology 51
Principle Ethics 51
Autonomy 52
Beneficence 52
Nonmaleficence 52
Justice 52
Virtue Ethics 52
Care Ethics 53
Consent for Care Provided by AI Technology 54
Can AI Robotics Deliver ‘Care’? 54
The Role of Touch in Care Giving 55
Case Study: What if AI Was More Compassionate than a Person? 57
Conclusion 59
Our Thoughts on Potential Benefits and Risks of AI in the Case Scenario 59
References 63
Chapter 4 Compassion, Self-compassion and Being Mindful 65
Introduction 65
Developing Self-Compassion 66
Narcissism and Self-Compassion 66
Self-Compassion 67
The Benefits of Being Self-Compassionate 69
The Challenges of Self-Compassion 70
Perfectionism 70
Our ‘Inner Critic’ 71
Shame 72
How to Develop Self-Compassion 73
Practicing Self-Compassion 75
Exercise 75
Resilience 76
Burnout 76
References 80
Chapter 5 Compassionate Encounters with Individuals 83
Introduction 83
Developing an Evolutionary Understanding of Compassion 84
Pro-Sociality 86
Working with Individuals - Empathy and Compassion 87
Attributes when Working Compassionately: A Focus on Motivation 91
What Is Motivation? 92
Case Study: ‘Going for a Drink with Dave’ 94
References 97
Chapter 6 Encounters with Groups: The Compassionate Team 103
Introduction 103
Professional Values 104
Developing Values-Based Practice 105
Values Based Practice 106
What Is VBP? 106
VIII Contents the Importance of Values in the Practice of Health and Social Care Workers 108
The Theory of Values- Based Practice 109
Compassion and Team Working 113
Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) in Teamworking 114
What Are the Implications for Compassionate Practice? 115
The ‘Meitheal’ as a Cultural Expression of Compassionate Teamworking 116
Compassionate Teams: Lessons from Project Aristotle 117
Case Study 119
The Compassion Focused Multi-Disciplinary Team (CF MDT) 120
Meditation Content 120
Post Meditation Discussion 121
Questions 121
References 121
Chapter 7 Compassionate Support for People: The Role of Supervision 127
Introduction 127
What is Practice Supervision? 128
Developing Self-Efficacy and Competence 129
Supervision and the Issue of Identity 130
A Model of Supervision 132
Schwartz Rounds and Compassion 134
A Revised Approach to Compassionate Supervision 135
The Components of Compassion-Focused Supervision 138
Promoting Courage Through Supervision 139
Leadership and Supervision 139
Case Study Exercise 141
References 141
Chapter 8 Compassionate Leadership 147
Introduction 147
An Overview of Leadership in Health and Social Care 148
The Context of Healthcare Leadership 149
A Review of Existing Literature on Leadership Style 153
A Word on The ‘Alpha’ Narrative on Leadership 153
Compassionate Leadership 154
Leadership From an Evolutionary Perspective 154
Compassion, Resilience and Leadership 155
Is Personal Resilience the Answer? 156
‘Real-World’ Leadership 158
Compassionate Leadership and Social Relationships 159
Safety 160
Trustworthiness and Transparency 161
Peer Support 161
Collaboration and Mutuality 161
Team-Based Approach 162
Empowerment and Choice 162
Cultural, Historical and Gender Issues 162
Case Scenario: Compassionate Leadership in Healthcare 163
Background 163
Questions to Consider 164
References 166
Chapter 9 Teaching Compassion (with Lyndsay Khan) 171
Introduction 171
Courage 172
Wisdom 174
Can Compassion be Taught? 176
The Compassionate Educator 178
An Overview of Training in Compassion 179
Compassion and Caring 181
Teaching Mindfulness 182
Strategies for Teaching Compassion 182
Case Study 184
Teaching Compassion 184
Introduction 184
Case Study Scenario 184
Learning Objectives 184
Areas for Discussion 185
Learning Activities 185
Teaching Compassion: Case Study 2 185
Introduction 185
Case Study Scenario 186
Learning Objectives 186
Discussion Questions 186
Learning Activities 187
Conclusion 187
References 187
Index 193
