Empathy in Palliative Care

Empathy in Palliative Care

Based on your clinical experiences with those who are dying, how have these experiences shaped your view of death and impacted your ability to demonstrate the qualities of empathy?

Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format.

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APA

My clinical experiences with patients facing the end of life have profoundly shaped my view of death and enhanced my ability to demonstrate empathy. Witnessing the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey of dying individuals has taught me that death is not just a medical event but a deeply human experience that requires sensitivity, presence, and compassion. Rather than viewing death solely as a failure of treatment, I have come to understand it as a natural transition, often accompanied by a profound need for connection, dignity, and peace.

These experiences have strengthened my ability to listen actively and respond compassionately to patients and families. For example, sitting beside a patient in hospice care who expressed fears about leaving their children behind helped me understand the importance of acknowledging emotional pain rather than simply managing physical symptoms. Empathy, in these moments, meant being fully present, validating their feelings, and offering reassurance without minimizing their suffering. Research supports that empathy plays a crucial role in palliative care, improving patient satisfaction and reducing emotional distress (Sinclair et al., 2017).

In end-of-life care, empathy is not just a feeling but an action—one that involves respect, attentive communication, and emotional attunement. These qualities are essential for supporting patients through the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

References
Sinclair, S., Beamer, K., Hack, T. F., McClement, S., Bouchal, S. R., & Chochinov, H. M. (2017). Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients’ understandings, experiences, and preferences. Palliative Medicine, 31(5), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216316663499

Ferrell, B. R., & Coyle, N. (Eds.). (2015). Oxford textbook of palliative nursing (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.