Identifying the Role of Self-Compassion in Nursing Students' Perceptions of Readiness for Practice: A Mixed Methods Study

Purpose of Study: Nursing students must be able to provide holistic, patient-centered, compassionate care upon entering professional practice despite the stress and psychological challenges of the healthcare environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between self-compassion, as a promoter, predictor and protector of psychological health, and perceived readiness for practice. Design of Study: This study used a convergent mixed-method design with correlational and directed content analyses. A convenience sample of undergraduate senior nursing students from baccalaureate programs in the Northeastern Region of the United States participated. Methods: Participants completed a 37-item online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF), and the Casey Fink Readiness for Practice Survey (c) 2008 (n = 82) followed by semi-structured online interviews (n = 18). Findings: Results indicated that self-compassion and support systems positively influence perceived readiness for professional nursing practice. Conclusions: The findings promote psychological health as a component of readiness for professional nursing practice and the incorporation of self-compassion development into nursing curriculum.