Compassionate care and the patient-provider relationshipKenneth Schwartz was a healthcare lawyer who had only been exposed to business aspect of healthcare. It wasn't until he was diagnosed with lung cancer that he was able to play another role in health care, that of a patient. The battle he would face would not only be physical but also emotional. Ultimately, Schwartz lost his battle with lung cancer just under a year after receiving his diagnosis. The one thing he repeatedly emphasized were the empathetic acts of kindness caregivers showed him. For him, cancer wasn't just about beating cancer physically, it was about his overall well-being and his desire to remain intact throughout the process. He may have lost his battle with cancer, but the care he received kept him hopeful and optimistic until his untimely death. Compassionate care should be an essential component for all healthcare providers. This can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and contribute to better adherence to caregiver recommendations. Patients should never feel like they are being rushed, that they are not important, or that they are not receiving the best possible care. Even when he tried to remain optimistic, fear and anxiety often took hold in Schwartz's mind. He was experiencing fear and anxiety related to impending death. The worry of missing out on his son growing up and no longer experiencing romantic moments with his wife filled him with both dread and grief. He expressed this fear to his psychiatrist and his concern about possible depression. Dr. Cassem assured him that crying was a sign of recognition of his love for his family. He also worried about whether he could do anything in the middle of a paper...with compassion fatigue it would be of no use in meeting the patient's emotional and spiritual needs. The emotions of both the nurse and the patient must be satisfied in order to establish good communication and compassionate care between the two.ReferencesBetcher, DK (2010). Elephant in the Room Project: Improving the effectiveness of care through effective and compassionate communication with palliative care patients. Medsurg Nursing, 19(2), 101-105. Corso, Vincent M. (2012). Oncology nurse as healer: developing a compassionate identity. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 16(5), 448-450.Kret, D. (2011). The qualities of a compassionate nurse according to the perceptions of medical-surgical patients. Medsurg Nursing, 20(1), 29-36. Schwartz, Kenneth B. (July 1995). A patient's story. The Boston Globe Magazine, p...