Understanding the Role of Empathy in Mental Health Nursing Practice

Abstract

This qualitative study explored how empathy shapes the daily experiences of mental health nurses working in government and private hospitals. Interviews with 20 participants, 10 female and 10 male nurses revealed that empathy fosters trust, therapeutic relationships, and patient recovery. Female nurses emphasized active listening, emotional regulation, and patient-centered engagement, highlighting how empathy helps build deeper connections. Male nurses focused on professional boundaries, stress management, and empathy under pressure, demonstrating that understanding rather than emotional expression defines professional care. Both groups acknowledged barriers such as emotional fatigue, workload, and institutional stressors, yet valued reflective practice and teamwork as strategies to sustain empathy. Findings suggest that incorporating empathy training and emotional intelligence modules into nursing education can enhance compassionate, effective, and recovery-oriented mental health care.