Self-Compassion and Perceived Readiness for Practice Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

There is increasing concern about how nursing students’ psychological health will impact their future nursing practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced these concerns. Nurse educators are being challenged with preparing nursing students to provide compassionate, patient-centered care despite the stress and psychological challenges of today’s healthcare environment. Self-compassion is a practice of mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity which positively influences and predicts psychological health. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between self-compassion and perceived readiness for professional practice among undergraduate nursing students. A convergent mixed-method design utilizing correlational and directed content analyses explored this relationship. The sample consisted of 82 senior nursing students from baccalaureate programs in the Northeastern Region of the United States. Participants completed an online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF), and the Casey Fink Readiness for Practice Survey ©2008. Eighteen of the participants were also interviewed. Results indicated that self-compassion and support systems positively influence perceived readiness. The findings promote psychological health as a component of readiness for professional practice and the incorporation of self-compassion development into nursing curriculum