The concept of compassion within UK media generated discourse: a corpus informed analysis

Aim: To examine how the concept of compassion is socially constructed within UK discourse, in response to recommendations that aspiring nurses gain care experience prior to entering nurse education. Background: Following a report of significant failings in care, the UK government proposed prior care experience for aspiring nurses as a strategy to enhance compassion amongst the profession. Media reporting of this proposal generated substantial online discussion, which formed the data for this research. Methods: A corpus-informed discourse analysis of a combined 62626-word corpus of data. The data were composed of online responses that had been posted to comments threads, in response to media reporting of the UK government's proposal that nurses gain up to a year prior care experience before entering nursing. Data was analysed using Laurence Anthony software 'AntCon', a free corpus analysis toolkit. Results: Findings identified that compassion was frequently described in various ways as a natural characteristic attribute. A pattern of language also referred to compassion as something that was not able to be taught, but could be developed through the repetition of behaviours observed in practice learning. In the context of compassion, the word-type 'nurse' was used positively. Conclusion: This paper adds to important debates highlighting how compassion is constructed and defined in the context of nursing. Compassion is constructed as both an individual, personal trait and a professional behaviour to be learnt. Educational design could include effective interpersonal skills training, which may help enhance and develop compassion from within the nursing profession. Likewise, ways of thinking, behaving and communicating should also be addressed by established practitioners in order to maintain compassionate interactions between professionals as well as nurse-patient relationships. Future research should focus on how compassionate practice is defined by both health professionals and patients. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: The concept of compassion within UK media generated discourse: a corpus informed analysis, Published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, which will be published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652702. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.