Exploring the relationship between compassion, the practice environment, and quality of care as perceived by paediatric nurses

Abstract

Purpose: To (1) explore associations between paediatric nurses' perceptions of their own compassion, the practice environment, and quality of care, and (2) identify factors that influence perceived quality of care.

Design and methods: Cross-sectional survey of paediatric nurses (n = 113) from a hospital network in Melbourne, Australia. The survey included the Compassion Scale, Practice Environment Scale of the Nurse Work Index (PES-NWI), a single quality of care item, and demographic items. Hierarchical regression was used to explore factors that predicted perceived care quality.

Results: There were moderate positive correlations between perceived care quality and both compassion (rho = 0.36, p < .001) and practice environment (i.e., total PES-NWI: rho = 0.45, p < .001). There were significant differences in perceived care quality based on nurses' work area (i.e., critical care vs medical/surgical wards). The final hierarchical regression analysis included compassion (Step 2) and four of five PES-NWI subscales (Step 3), controlling for work area (Step 1). The model was statistically significant and explained 44% of variance in perceived quality; compassion and PES-NWI subscale 2 (Nursing foundations for quality of care) were statistically significant predictors.

Conclusions: Paediatric nurses' perceptions of quality were influenced by their own compassion for others and elements of the practice environment, particularly nursing foundations for care quality, which is characterised by a clear nursing philosophy and model of care, with programs and processes to support practice.

Practice implications: The findings offer insights into potentially modifiable individual and workplace factors that contribute to paediatric nurses' perceptions of care quality.

Keywords: Care quality; Compassion; Nursing; Pediatrics; Working conditions.