Aktiv empati: Sjuksköterskors strategier för att frammana empati i mötet med patienter som av sjuksköterskan upplevs vara svårbemötta

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe nurses' strategies to bring out empathy when encountering patients who are felt difficult to empathize with. The study is empirical and based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with registered nurses at a surgical ward. The data material was analyzed using content analysis. The result of the study shows that nurses employ different types of deliberate strategies in order to secure an empathetic treatment of these patients. In the study, the strategies are summarized in four head categories: strategies focusing on the patient, to decide upon one's set of mind, strategies focusing on oneself and indirect factors.