ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/cnp.2026.06.001
Embracing Compassion: The Philosophical Essence of Care at Nursing’s Core
Aurang Zeb
Rehman College of Nursing, RMI, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan.
*Corresponding author: Aurang Zeb
Published: January 22, 2026
Abstract
In the dynamic landscape of nursing, care stands as the quintessential element that defines the profession’s essence. This paper delves into the philosophical underpinnings of care and its pivotal role in nursing practice. Drawing upon the insights of nursing theorists and historical perspectives, it examines the evolution of care as both a verb and an adjective, encompassing both the act of assisting those in need and the embodiment of humanistic virtues such as compassion and empathy. Despite its foundational significance, the centrality of care has faced challenges in contemporary nursing, overshadowed by technological advancements and task-oriented approaches. Through critical analysis, this paper explores the implications of this shift and advocates for a reclamation of the heart of nursing—a return to the core principles of care. By integrating caring knowledge into nursing practice and fostering a culture of compassionate care, nurses can uphold the holistic values that define the profession, promoting healing and wholeness for patients and practitioners alike.
Keyword
Patient-centered care; Compassion in nursing care; Caring philosophy; Ethics of care; Humanistic nursing
References
[1] Swanson KM. Empirical development of a middle range theory of caring. Nurs Res. 1991;40(3):161-166.
[2] Roach MS. The human act of caring: A blueprint for the health professions. Ottawa: Canadian Hospital Association; 1992.
[3] Shah M, Parpio Y, Zeb A, et al. Perceptions of male nurses about nursing profession. Biomed J Sci Tech Res. 2017;1(4):1206-1208.
[4] Beare PG, Myers JL. Principles and practice of adult health nursing. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby; 1990.
[5] Chitty KK. Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1993.
[6] Zarzycka D, Ślusarska B. The essence of nursing care: Polish nurses’ perspectives. J Adv Nurs. 2007;59(4):370-378.
[7] Adams LY. The conundrum of caring in nursing. Int J Caring Sci. 2016;1(1):1-5.
[8] Watson J. Caring science and human caring theory. New York: National League for Nursing; 1990.
[9] Thornton L. The model of whole-person caring: Creating and sustaining a healing environment. Holist Nurs Pract. 2005;19(3):106-115.
[10] Vitetta L, Anton B, Cortizo F, et al. Mind–body medicine: Stress and its impact on overall health. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005;1057:492-505.
[11] Bliss S, Baltzly D, Bull R, et al. A role for virtue in unifying the knowledge and caring discourses in nursing theory. Nurs Inq. 2017;24(4):e12191.
Copyright
© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
How to cite this paper
Embracing Compassion: The Philosophical Essence of Care at Nursing’s Core
How to cite this paper: Aurang Zeb. (2026). Embracing Compassion: The Philosophical Essence of Care at Nursing’s Core. Clinical Nursing Perspectives, 3(1), 1-3.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/cnp.2026.06.001