Why Empathy is a Critical Skill in Healthcare

Your ward is bustling and you have these meetings that have been scheduled that you have to attend to discuss patients’ care, plus a myriad of emails waiting for your attention.

Patients and family members are getting agitated as they have been waiting unusually longer than expected.?

You have to convey this negative diagnosis to this family as they have eagerly awaited the results of the various tests on their Dad.?

You have to communicate this difficult information in an unrushed manner and patiently listen to the family as they had many questions to which you had to give responses to manage them better calmly.

While still attending to them, another family hurriedly pushed their brother, who is fighting for his life in a wheelchair, into your ward with the support of a nurse. Your urgent attention is required as the family members want his life saved.?

Daily you have to relate with your patients, their family members, colleagues and other professionals with varying needs in various capacities.?

You have to live and work with others in various ways. The people you work and live with may behave in ways different from you or your expectations of them.??

You face difficult and unexpected situations in which you may need to find solutions, which could be part of your daily responsibilities.

This is why developing the skill of empathy is so vital in the life of a healthcare professional.

Empathy allows you to relate with others at different levels, see things from various perspectives, and apply the most appropriate intervention in each situation.

What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to perceive and relate to the thoughts, emotions or experiences of others.

The Institute for Social & Emotional Intelligence (ISEI) defines empathy as “sensing others’ feelings and perspectives and taking an active interest in their concerns; the ability to put yourself in another’s place and to take that perspective into account in your relationship with the other person”.?

Empathy has an impact on your relationships. This is true for both your personal and professional relationships. Empathy can make your life easier and more fulfilling at home and work!

Empathy is an important skill. It can significantly increase your ability to communicate and connect with others.?

Understanding their feelings and thoughts will boost your rapport with them.?

Enhance your personal and work relationships with empathy and you’ll benefit in many ways.

Three Types of Empathy:

-???????Cognitive empathy: The ability to understand another person’s point of view – I know how you think

-???????Emotional empathy: The ability to feel what someone else feels – I know how you feel

-???????Empathic concern: The ability to sense what another person needs from you – I care about you

Benefits of Developing Empathy:

1. It enhances your relationships.?When you’re empathetic, you understand the thoughts and emotions of others. Empathy dramatically reduces the occurrence of misunderstandings. You’ll also be far less likely to offend anyone in your life.
2. Empathy improves your ability to form new relationships.?It’s not just current relationships that benefit from your empathy. Your ability to create new relationships is also greatly improved. Empathetic people are likeable and able to bond with others more easily.
3. Your ability to negotiate is greatly enhanced.?A high degree of empathy will increase your ability to deal with your patients, kids, spouse, partner, boss or colleagues.
4. Empathy can help your career as a healthcare professional.?Navigating the workplace becomes more manageable when your empathic skills are high. You begin to understand what everyone at work needs and wants. Knowing this information makes you an influential person.
5. Your self-esteem improves.?When you get along better with others, you are liked by more people and are more successful; your self-esteem goes through the roof.
6. It makes you more valuable to others.?People like empathetic people. Your ability to influence others is greatly affected by your empathy. When you have a high degree of influence over others, you can do more for your friends, family, employer, colleagues, and patients.
7. Your understanding of people, in general, is enhanced.?Empathy gives a peek into how the minds of others work. You begin to see the similarity between seemingly dissimilar people. You can’t fully understand people and their motivations without being highly empathetic.
8. Life is easier.?When you put all of these advantages together, you make your life a lot easier. Your relationships are better. Your career is enhanced. You feel better about yourself and are better able to influence others. Having empathy benefits you as much as it does the people around you.

Which type of empathy have you observed that you are more proficient in?