Loss of empathy in nursing towards family members in intensive care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/pzzsqz39Keywords:
Empathy, intensive care, patient families, nursing, emotional exhaustion, intensive care unitAbstract
The objective of this study was to analyze the loss of empathy among nursing staff toward the family members of patients admitted to intensive care units, with the aim of understanding its underlying causes and consequences. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining data collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a group of nursing professionals. The results revealed a widespread tendency toward limited emotional interaction with family members, primarily attributed to work overload, lack of institutional recognition, and the influence of a dehumanized organizational environment. Furthermore, the findings were deepened by identifying defense mechanisms such as habituation to suffering and the functional redefinition of empathy as adaptive strategies. The triangulation of results demonstrated that the loss of empathy does not stem from an ethical deficiency, but rather from adverse structural and emotional conditions. Based on these findings, targeted interventions were proposed to strengthen the human dimension of care in intensive care units through organizational improvements, psycho-emotional support for staff, and the promotion of an empathetic institutional culture.
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