Concept Analysis of Empathy in Nursing Practice

Introduction to Concept Analysis and Empathy

Concept analysis is conducted in order to better understand a concept or term that is frequently used but little understood, or whose meaning has become "blurred" as a result of contextual arrangements. In the nursing field, empathy is a term used in a manner that diminishes its importance and its nature — and therefore its significance to the profession. A clearer concept of empathy is developed in Wiseman's (1996) study of the term, which applies a structured analytical framework to restore precision and meaning to a concept that is central to nursing practice.

Wiseman (1996) asserts that by utilizing the Walker and Avant (1983) model of concept analysis, she can better convey what the word means and why it is important. She acknowledges that empathy is a concept with which she is personally familiar and that is essential in the role of the nurse. However, because it is so essential, she argues it is important to step back and reflect on what this concept truly means. That is the purpose of her study: to identify, through systematic analysis, the meaning of the term.

Wiseman's Framework and Research Questions

Wiseman (1996) begins by locating relevant literature on the topic and reviewing what past studies have indicated about empathy and nursing. She highlights the work of Tshuldin (1989), who finds that one's level of empathy essentially determines the quality of care one is able to provide. Wiseman also draws on other literature that supports the notion of empathy as a pivotal element in building trust, therapeutic relationships, professional work ethic, and effective care plans.

The main purpose of the concept analysis is to "clarify" that which has become everyday, commonplace, and essentially drained of real meaning. The goal is to restore value to the term by restoring perspective. Wiseman (1996) notes that the main aim of the study is to "increase knowledge of the concept and to answer some questions: Namely, what is empathy?" and "If it is so important, how is it recognized, nurtured, and sustained?" (p. 1162). The reason Wiseman utilizes the Walker and Avant framework is that it is comprehensive and simplifies concept analysis by breaking it down into clear, sequential steps.

Defining Empathy: Surveys and Dictionary Sources

The first step Wiseman takes is to gauge how ordinary nurses define empathy. She notes that the sample used in the nurse survey is not comprehensive or definitive, but serves as a starting point for investigating the term. Associated words and phrases that nurses used to describe empathy included "listening, caring, understanding, valuing, feeling," and similar terms (Wiseman, 1996, p. 1163). It is therefore reasonable to conclude that nurses tend to equate empathy with compassion. However, Wiseman takes a more decisive step in understanding empathy by consulting various dictionaries, whose definitions are grounded in established usage over time.

This investigation yields several important insights. Empathy is defined in one source as the "projection of the self into the feelings of others," and in another as "the power of entering into another's personality and imaginatively experiencing his experiences" (p. 1163). A further definition describes it as "intellectual and emotional awareness," which adds depth and dimension to the concept. These dictionary definitions effectively build on the average nurse's understanding of the term — yet they remain limited in capturing what it means to empathize in real clinical practice.