Self-compassion and nursing competency among Japanese psychiatric nurses

Purpose This study examined the association of self-focus and self-compassion with nursing competency. Design and Methods Data of 433 psychiatric nurses comprising demographics, other-consciousness, self-compassion, self-focus, and nursing competency were analyzed using the Other-Consciousness Scale (OCS), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Japanese version of the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ), and Oriented Problem Solving Behavior (OPSN). Findings Higher internal aspect and lower fantastic aspect in OCS, higher reflection in RRQ, and lower SCS negative subscales predicted a higher OPSN score. The account rate of variance was 12.5%. Practice Implications Psychiatric nursing education should facilitate other-consciousness and reflection enhancement, and assuage uncompassionate attitude towards self.