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To Care is Our Calling

By Justine Karl G. Peña

As student nurses, have you ever wondered why we care? My fellow pursuers as we delve deeper into the dream that we have, we continue to realize why we chose this. I have had a calling that has driven me toward this path since I was in high school and I believe you all have this too. As Jean Watson said, “Caring is the Essence of Nursing.”

As we strive to become a nurse, I believe there are three most significant driving forces that drive us to care. This includes communication, compassion, and commitment.

First, nursing is intertwined with communication. According to Ruben, B. D (2016), communication between nurses and patients can reduce uncertainty, enhance greater patient engagement in decision-making, improve patient adherence to medication and treatment plans, increase social support, safety, and patient satisfaction in care.

Second, in nursing, having compassion is linked to having empathy. A compassionate nurse is empathetic to the pain and suffering of her patients, which is vital to the patient's well-being. Compassionate care makes patients more comfortable when they are in pain, feeling ill, or suffering from mental or emotional stress (McGhee, M. K., 2022).

Lastly, in nursing, being committed is also being determined as a nurse or as a student who yearns to deliver appropriate care. A study conducted by Ahmadzadeh-Zeidi, M. J., et al. (2024) revealed that higher nurses’ professional commitment leads to higher quality of care and less missed nursing care.

Ultimately, caring is a calling. Let us become effective communicators, compassionate individuals, and committed to upholding the very reason why we are here now. We will become nurses as we keep on carrying the burning torch of care high enough to illuminate the lives of many.

References:

Ahmadzadeh-Zeidi, M. J., et al. (2024). The relationship between nurses’ professional commitment and missed nursing care: A cross-sectional study in Iran. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 533. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02195-w

Corbitt, N. (2016). Recognizing the Essence of Nursing. The Online Journal of Nursing Informatics. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://www.ons.org/10-2016/recognizing-essence-nursing

McGhee, M. K. (2022, November 18). The Importance of Compassion. AMN Healthcare Blog. Retrieved March 2, 2025, from https://www.amnhealthcare.com/blog/nursing/travel/the-importance-of-compassion

Ruben, B. D. (2016). Communication theory and health communication practice: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Health Communication, 31(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2014.923086