Cultivating Reflective Nursing Practice: Consideration of Human Suffering

The pandemic has shined a light on the universal experience of human suffering as a phenomenon that connects the lives of people across the world. Suffering is a profoundly personal experience, yet we also experience shared suffering. Reflective nursing practice serves as an essential foundation for engaging in self-awareness, embracing shared vulnerability, and exercising self-care that bolsters the delivery of compassionate nursing care across patient populations and communities. The well-being of a nurse is a collective responsibility among stakeholders, and a systems-level approach acknowledges the importance of self-care and invests in formal strategies that support the long-term well-being of the nursing workforce. By doing so, the needs of the suffering may be meaningfully addressed.