The Humanitarian and Psychological Role of Nursing: Balancing Scientific Expertise, sympathy and Compassionate Care

Abstract

Background: Nursing is a profession that combines scientific knowledge with emotional intelligence, making it central to both physical care and psychological support. Nurses often experience emotional and physical burdens due to the nature of their humanitarian role in healthcare systems.

Objectives: The current study aims to explore the humanitarian and psychological dimensions of nursing practice, emphasizing the balance between clinical expertise, emotional support, and the challenges faced by nurses in providing compassionate care.

Methodology: This is a conceptual and analytical study based on literature review and theoretical frameworks that describe the nursing profession. It incorporates classical nursing definitions, such as those by Florence Nightingale and Virginia Henderson, and analyzes the psychological, ethical, and institutional factors affecting nurses’ performance.

Results: The findings revealed that nurses face a wide range of stressors including physical fatigue, emotional burnout, and psychological pressure, especially when working with vulnerable populations such as the elderly, terminally ill, and psychiatric patients. The study also indicated that a lack of institutional and psychological support may negatively affect the quality of care. Key traits such as empathy, communication skills, and emotional resilience were found to be essential to nursing effectiveness.

Conclusions: The study concluded that nursing is not only a technical profession but also a deeply humanitarian one requiring moral, psychological, and institutional support. When this support is lacking, nurses are at risk of emotional exhaustion, which can compromise patient outcomes.

Recommendations: It is recommended to implement educational programs, psychological support systems, and institutional policies that promote nurses’ well-being, emotional resilience, and continued professional development to enhance the quality of care provided