LONG ESSAY SR. FAUSTINA 26TH NOVEMBER .pdf

INSTITUTE OF SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOUS FORMATION
TANGAZA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA
TOPIC:
THE VALUE OF COMPASSIONATE SERVICE BY FELICIAN SISTERS IN
PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH AMONG PATIENTS IN NANYUKI, KENYA
STUDENT: SR. CATHERINE WANJA KINYUA CSSF
REG. NO. 19/00810
SUPERVISOR
REV. SR. MARIA FELIX MWIKALI ASN
Long Essay Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements
For the Diploma in Religious Formation
December, 2021
Nairobi Kenya

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STUDENT`S DECLARATION
I the undersigned Catherine Wanja Kinyua, declare that this long essay is my original work,
achieved through my personal reading, scientific research and critical reflection. It is
submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Diploma in Religious Formation. It
has never been submitted to any other college or university for academic credit. All sources
have been cited in full and acknowledged.
Signed: _________________________________________
Name of the Student: Sr. Catherine Wanja Kinyua, CSSF
Date ___________________________________________
This Long essay has been submitted for examination with my approval as the college
supervisor.
Signed: _________________________________________
Name of the Supervisor: Sr. Maria Felix Mwikali, ASN
Date ___________________________________________

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DEDICATION
This work is entirely dedicated to the Felician Sisters in Kenya especially those
working in Mother Angela Huruma Hospital in Nanyuki.

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EPIGRAPH
Blessed Mary Angela’s life was marked with love. Towards the sick, the sisters
should show patience and care; they should console them, bear with them patiently, take care
of their needs, trying not to show any disgust. (Blessed Mary Angela Selected Writing Vol.
III, 155156)

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AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank God for his love and mercy which has accompanied me through my two years
of experience in spirituality. I acknowledge the action of the Holy Spirit in me who has
guided me through this work.
I extend my wholehearted appreciation to the Felician Sisters, Vice Provincial
Superior Sr. Mary Virginia Wanja Njiru, and the Administration who sent me to study. I am
thankful to the members of Mary Mother of Mercy Ngong local community for their great
support when I was compiling this work.
I thank my supervisor Rev. Sr. Maria Felix Mwikali ASN, for her availability to
journey with me during this work, I appreciative Rev. Dr. Remigius Ikpe, OCD for his
proficiency, flexibility, attentiveness and patience which he has made me to work with
passion and zeal.
I am grateful to my family for their love and prayers in my vocational journey and for
making this work a reality.
Finally, I acknowledge that a lot of people have made this study possible through their
benevolent sacrifices. May God bless and strengthen all of them.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STUDENT`S DECLARATION................................................................................................ ii
DEDICATION...........................................................................................................................ii
EPIGRAPH................................................................................................................................ii
AKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................................................ii
GENERAL INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................2
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY.......................................................................................... 2
PURPOSE AND AIM................................................................................................................2
PROBLEM STATEMENT........................................................................................................ 2
STUDY OBJECTIVES..............................................................................................................2
RATIONALE / JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY............................................................... 2
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION................................................................................................2
DIFFICULTIES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM...........................................................2
POSSIBLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS.................................................................................... 2
METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................................ 2
THE FELICIAN VALUE OF COMPASSIONATE SERVICE................................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Background to Felician Value of Compassionate Service.....................................................2
1.2 Respect for Human Dignity of Sick Persons......................................................................... 2
1.3 Display an Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of Sick Person....................................... 2
1.4 Transformative Attitude of Open Mind and Heart in Service of the Sick............................. 2
1.5 Attitude of Deep Respect, Love, Awe, and Esteem for the Sick............................................2
1.6 Respect for Diversity and Uniqueness of Each Patient..........................................................2
1.7 Selfless Service to the Sick in a Spirit of Humility................................................................2
1.8 Compassionate Service to the Sick with Inherent Joy and Gladness.....................................2
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 2
CHAPTER TWO....................................................................................................................... 2
CHALLENGES IN RESPONDING WITH THE VIRTUE OF COMPASSION..................... 2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Challenges Facing Compassionate Service of the Sick......................................................... 2
2.2 Difficulties in Implementing Respect for Human Dignity of Sick Persons...........................2
2.3 Obstacles to Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of Sick Person.....................................2

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2.4 Challenges in appropriate Attitude in Service of the Sick.....................................................2
2.5 Consequences of Disrespect for the Personal Esteem of the Sick......................................... 2
2.6 Challenges Related to Discriminative Services of Patient.....................................................2
2.7 Inadequate Generosity in Service to the Sick in a Spirit of Humility....................................2
2.8 The impact of being too strict and legalistic in service of the sick........................................2
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 2
CHAPTER THREE....................................................................................................................2
PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE SERVICE TO THE SICK...............................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
3.1 Felician Value of Compassionate Service of the Sick in Nanyuki........................................ 2
3.2 Respect for Human Dignity of the Sick in Nanyuki.............................................................. 2
3.3 Display an Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of the Sick in Nanyuki.......................... 2
3.4 Felician Value of Transformative Attitude of Open Mind and Heart....................................2
3.5 Felician Attitude of Deep Respect, Love, Awe, and Esteem for the Sick............................. 2
3.6 Felician Value of Respect for Diversity and Uniqueness of Patients.................................... 2
3.7 Felician Value of selfless Service in a Spirit of Humility to the Sick....................................2
3.8 Compassionate Service with Inherent Joy and Gladness to the Sick.....................................2
Conclusion................................................................................................................................... 2
GENERAL CONCLUSION...................................................................................................... 2
RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................................... 2
BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................2

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION
This paper presents the value of compassionate service by Felician sisters in
promoting good health among patients in Nanyuki, Kenya. In chapter one, the researcher
gives the value of compassionate service by the Felician Sisters. The background of the
Felician Sisters compassionate service has always been at the core of their mission.
Compassion drives their commitment in serving patients with empathy, respect, and dignity.
Compassion drives them to love neighbors, and support those who are in need especially the
sick in an attitude of open mind and heart. Felician Sisters demonstrate an attitude of deep
respect, love and esteem to the sick. They also respect diversity and uniqueness in each
patient and serve them in selfless dedication and humility. They give compassionate service
to the sick with inherent joy and gladness as demanded by Felician charism.
In Chapter two the researcher explains challenges faced while responding in
apostalate to the virtue of compassion. Challenges affects those giving compassionate service
of the sick, their work and and may reduce commitment and expression of compassion
towards the patients making it difficult to render with human dignity. This ought to leads to
obstacles to empathetic solidarity with the feelings of the sick and of inappropriate attitudes
resulting in poor patient care. It leads to consequences of disrespect for it affects self esteem
of the sick, which diminish compassion towards the patients in hospitals. In other words,
challenges related to discriminative service to the sick such that treating a patient differently,
or worse than others. Serving in inadequate generosity limits generosity and lack of love and
humility in their service to the sick. Hence serving the sick in strictness and legalistic
attitudes diminishes the virtue of compassion since there is no room for creativity by obeying
fixed rules.
In chapter three the researcher explores strategies that Felician Sisters applys in
overcoming challenges facing compassionate service provision to Patients in Nanyuki.
Felician Sisters embraces the value of compassionate service to the sick, which is a core
value in their ministry. In compassion they respect the dignity of each patient and treat them
in a humane way by serving the sick in an empathetic way especially being in solidarity to
their feelings and sufferings in order to understand the patients. Felician Sisters apply a value
of transformative attitudes of open mind and heart in deep respect, love, awe and esteem,
which makes the patient feel welcomed and facilitates faster healing. They respect patients’
diversity and uniqueness to avoid discriminative tendencies. They do their services in

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humility in a selfless way in an inherent joy and gladness as they imitate the joy of
Saint Felix whose name Felician Sisters bear.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The Felician Sisters officially known as the Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix of
Cantalice Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi (CSSF) is a religious institute of
pontifical right whose members profess public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience and
follow the evangelical way of life in common. The aim of the Felician community is to
cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world, by responding to God’s love by
aspiring to perfect union with him by living the Gospel in its fullness. In their spirit of
readiness and total availability, they dedicate themselves to the service of God and his people,
so that in all and by all, God may be known, loved and glorified.1
It is in this sense that the desire to study the topic on Felician compassionate service
for promoting good health among patients in Nanyuki came in. The Felician community had
its historic beginnings in nineteenth century Poland, which had ceased to exist as a nation in
1795 when it was partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Its beginnings in the Russian
sector of Poland were tempered by the grief and anguish of the sick, poor and afflicted as the
country struggled under the oppression of its foreign rulers.2
Since the Congregation had its origin in social services, diverse forms of charitable
acts became inseparable from the Felician vocation. The sick, orphans, poor women, and the
disabled gathered around the sisters. The sisters were entrusted with the care of a nursing
home for patients and a haven for the homeless. They were called to serve the sick in their
homes and in hospitals. It was in this situation that our foundress Blessed Mary Angela came
with this value of compassionate services to all especially the sick, poor women and orphan
children.3
Blessed Mary Angela was graced by God and enlightened by the Lord to go among
the suffering sick to serve Christ in them through prayer and sacrifice. Her gifts of nature and
1 Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice, Response to Love. (Rome:
Congregation of the sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice press, 1989), 13.
2 Congregation of the sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, The Beginning, accessed April 14, 2021,
http://www.feliciansisters.org/history/.
3 Domarecka, Amelia, eds, The Felician Charism: In the Light of the Constitutions of 1874, (Lodi: Congregation
of the sisters of St. Felix), 1974, 32.

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grace steadily increasing service to the Church increased Blessed Mary Angela involvement
in Christ’s gospel message with living faith and boundless love which she manifested in
complete surrender to his divine will in compassionate service.4
PURPOSE AND AIM
The purpose of this study is to know how compassionate services to the patients in
Nanyuki has enabled Felician Sisters to promote good health and bring hope to distressed. To
deepen the understanding of the topic, the researcher will take into consideration what
compassionate service on the perspective of the church and the society and how it goes hand
inhand with the Felician charism. “As Felician Sisters, called by God, they cooperate with
Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world.”5
In this regard, the researcher aims that this paper will be of further help to the Felician
Sisters in strengthening their mission in serving the sick. By reviewing the way they practise
the value of compassionate service by offering heathy care to the sick as an important way to
remain rooted in the essentials of Felician charism.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
According to the directives of Felician Sisters, they stand on the side of those who
cannot advocate for themselves in society that is the sick, the weak, the marginalized, or
those considered unwanted. The Felician Sisters take all possible action to restore the human
dignity by providing exceptional and compassionate healthcare services, together with an
honest respect for life, and a dedication to preserve the personal dignity and wellbeing of
those whom they serve in Nanyuki hospital while recognizing the honorable purpose of their
work. They acknowledge that every person has the right to healthcare. However, the Felician
Sisters engage in health care ministry with a special value of compassionate service.6
Felician Sisters are dedicated to make sure not only that every person has a right to
healthcare, but that they are treated with compassion. Thus, compassionate service aimed at
restoring human dignity and wellbeing of patients in Nanyuki is the particular focus of this
study.
4 Felician Sisters, The Life of Blessed Angela, accessed November 26, 2021, https://feliciansisters.org/thelife
ofblessedangela/.
5 Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice, Response to Love, 13.
6 Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice, Response to Love, Book 3, 26.

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STUDY OBJECTIVES
1. To investigate the Value of Compassionate Service by Felician Sisters;
2. To examine out challenges that the Felician faces while responding with the virtue of
Compassion to Patients in Nanyuki;
3. To explore strategies for overcoming challenges facing compassionate service to
Patients in Nanyuki.
RATIONALE / JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Our Mission is to provide exceptional and compassionate healthcare services, together
with an honest respect for life, and a dedication to preserve the personal dignity and well
being of those we serve, while recognizing the honorable purpose of our work. So Felician
ministry in the service to the sick seeks to be a transforming presence through
compassionate ministry to the sick in loving care. Our Core Values is to respect for Human
Dignity. So human life is sacred and central to the value of human dignity is the
understanding that every person is created in the image of God. The Gospel invites all
persons and societies to a new life lived abundantly in respect for human dignity.7 In this
paper, Felician compassionate service for the concern for patients is of great value.
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
This research study will focus mainly on the mission of Felician compassionate
services in Nanyuki particularly in Mother Angela Huruma hospital where their main concern
is to care for the sick patients.
DIFFICULTIES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM
Obtaining relevant documents and specific information pertaining compassionate
service to the sick to be covered might be difficult. However, the researcher will use some
documents from the beginning of the congregation. Another challenge is that some of the
congregational documents are in polish, especially the writings of the Foundress, which
pertains about the origin of the Felician compassionate service. This could be overcome by
looking on the reliable translated documents or consulting some of the Polishspeaking
Sisters.
7 John Paul II, Respect for human rights, the secret of true peace (1999), 3.

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POSSIBLE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What are the Felician Value of Compassionate Service?
2. Which are the challenges that the Felician faces while responding with the virtue of
Compassion to Patients in Nanyuki?
3. What are the strategies for overcoming challenges facing compassionate service to
Patients in Nanyuki?
METHODOLOGY
The researcher will use the congregational documents of the Congregation of the
sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice pertaining to their mission on compassionate healthcare
service, as well as other related references on Catholic social teaching. With these resources,
the researcher hopes to make relevant study on the topic to be able to make good conclusion
and recommendations.

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CHAPTER ONE
THE FELICIAN VALUE OF COMPASSIONATE SERVICE
Introduction
In this chapter the researches examine the value of compassionate service. One way is by
searching the background to Felician value of compassionate service. Other way is by treating
the sick with respect for human dignity. Felician Sisters display an empathetic solidarity with the
feeling of sick person and bring a transformative attitude of open mind and heart in service.
Another further way is by demonstrating an attitude of deep respect, love, awe, and esteem for
the sick in respect for their diversity and uniqueness of each patient. Felician Sisters offers
Compassionate Service to the sick with selfless service in a spirit of humility with inherent joy
and gladness.
1.1 Background to Felician Value of Compassionate Service
Felician Sisters being an active contemplative congregation of consecrated women was
founded by Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska. Already from her childhood, Angela was drawn
to prayer and genuine concern for others; but it was in 1848 at the age of 23 she experienced a
great change in her spiritual life, which she herself called her conversion. This was the beginning
of a more intensive interior life, which manifested itself in a growing devotion to the Holy
Eucharist, a greater love of prayer and a more ascetic life. She seriously considered joining the
cloistered Visitation Sisters but her confessor advised her not to leave her ailing father. Her
compassion for the underprivileged grew as she gained invaluable insight into the social ills and
issues of her time from her father, a juvenile court judge.8
Through her life, work and personal holiness, the Foundress marked out the role and
destiny of this 19th century innovation in Poland. As one of the first activecontemplative
communities, her sisters actualized the Gospel message in generating needed social changes,
actively survived political suppression of foreign conquerors, and assumed a vital and lasting
8 “Felician Sisters of North America,” Felician website, May 18, 2021,
http://www.feliciansistehttpsrsna.org/whoweare/ourfoundressblessedmaryangelatruszkowska/ourfoundress
blessedmaryangela.html.

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role in the mission of the Church. The Felician charism is to imitate blessed Mary
Angela`s boundless love of God and surrender to God’s will in compassionate service, total
availability and concern for the salvation of all people. It is through this inspiration that Felician
Sisters respond to the needs of God’s people, they minister in health care, pastoral care,
education, social work, spiritual and administrative services and other Churchrelated ministries.9
Felician Sisters purposes to cooperate with Christ in the mission of spiritual renewal of
the world. As an apostolic congregation, they fulfill their mission in the Church through
contemplation and action. The Beginnings of the Felician community had its historic beginnings
in nineteenth century in Poland. Poland had ceased to exist as a nation in 1795 when it was
partitioned by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Its beginnings in the Russian sector of Poland were
tempered by the grief and anguish of the poor and afflicted as the country struggled under the
oppression of its foreign rulers. The real story of the Felician Sisters value of compassionate
service, however, begins with the life and charism of Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska and
continues with the stories of the first followers of Angela the Felician Sisters.10
The earliest chronicles and memoirs recount how the charism of the Congregation was
expressed by the first Felician in lives centered in prayer and overflowing into ministry. Since
the Congregation had its origin in social services, diverse forms of charitable acts became
inseparable from the Felician vocation. Sick persons, orphans, poor women, and the disabled
gathered around the sisters. The Felician Sisters were called to serve the sick in their homes and
in hospitals, and to visit prisoners. They tended the wounded of both sides in a bloody civil war.
Thus, they understood that it was not proper for them to choose a particular type of duty, but that
they should be prepared to accept any assignment for God’s greater glory. The sisters were
encouraged not to depart from their original spirit of readiness because in their way of life such a
disposition is indispensable.11
Mother Angela envisioned service for God’s kingdom on earth as allembracing. When
the Church called, the Felician Sisters responded. The myriad of ministries in which they
9 Dmoska, Bronislawa. Mother Mary Angela Truszkowska: A Spiritual Biography. (New York: Sisters of St. Felix),
2000.
10 “Felician Sisters, the Beginning,” Last updated Feb 2, 2019, accessed May 20, 2021.
https://feliciansisters.org/history/.
11 Memoirs of the Congregation, Felician Sisters 2nd. Ed. (Lodi: Congregation of the sisters of St. Felix, 1974), 45.

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engaged ranged from social and catechetical centers to converted makeshift hospital for
the wounded soldiers’ fighters, including Russian and Polish soldiers the oppressors with the
oppressed with a charity that made no distinctions. Our foundress would always address the
sisters that, “Give aid to all without exception; your vocation obliges you not to exclude anyone,
for everybody is our neighbor.”12 These words written by our foundress, Mother Mary Angela,
were seen in action on Monday, September 7, when the Mother Angela Clinic team accepted its
latest invitation to serve where needed.
It is in these aspects that they understood that compassion asks them to go where it hurts,
to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.
Compassion challenged them to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who mourn
especially those who are lonely and weep with those in tears. Compassion requires them to be
weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. For
Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human. Mother foundress would
always remind the sisters that they should foster a spirit of mercy that they will be permeated
with compassion for all.
Felician Sisters compassionate service has always been at the core of our mission.
Compassion drives our commitment to serving the sick with empathy, respect, and dignity.
Compassion calls them to love their neighbors, and support those who are in need, for
compassion can bring healing and transformation. The guiding principle of the Felician sisters
that is to love is to give, in Mother Angela Huruma hospital in Nanyuki, has enabled them to
provide compassionates services to the patients. They therefore are able to offer a compassionate
service to the patients in responding to the charism according to the intention of the foundress
from the beginning of her value of compassionate services to the sick.
1.2 Respect for Human Dignity of Sick Persons
As Felician Sisters believe that God creates every person; therefore, they respect the dignity of
every person, regardless of race, religion, or social or economic status. Felician Sisters must
demonstrate a reverence and commitment to promoting and protecting the dignity of persons at
12 Angela Truszkowska, Selected Writings, Volume I, Letters to Sisters, (New York: Catholic Book Publishing,
1977), 112.

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all times among our patients.13 Respect for Human Dignity guides the Felician Sisters in
promoting good health among patients in Nanyuki. Human life is sacred, so central to the value
of human dignity is the understanding that every person is created in the image of God. The
Gospel invites Felician Sisters to a new life lived abundantly in respect for human dignity.
Pope Francis stated that “If we are to share our lives with others and generously give of
ourselves, we also have to realize that every person is worthy of our giving. God created that
person in his image, and he or she reflects something of God’s glory. Every human being is the
object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives.”14 Felician Sisters
thus promote dignity by promoting independence, privacy, social support and a positive tone of
care by listening, giving appropriate information, having a caring bedside manner especially to
those dying and showing respect, empathy and companionship.
As our foundress Blessed Mary Angela, Felician Sisters make sure that Spiritual care is
facilitated by having sufficient time, employing effective communication, and reflecting on one's
personal experiences for all the patients in Mother Angela Huruma Hospital in Nanyuki. To
continue the healing ministry of Jesus they provide compassionate care in respects with dignity
of each patient they serve. In other words, dignity makes an individual to think positively which
promotes mental health. As, patient feels dignified, there is an improvement in mental health
status and recovery rather than deterioration in mental health. Pope John XXIII stated
straightforwardly that “a human being has the right to security in cases of sickness, health care is
so important for full human dignity and so necessary for the proper development of life that it is
a fundamental right of every human being.”15
A sense of personalization helps the Felician Sisters to know the patient as a person in
helping to promote dignity. Thus, providing care for patients and caring about patients should go
hand in hand. Caring implicates fundamental attitude towards patients, and ability to convey
kindness, compassion and respect.16 Felician Sisters they must also be engaged in looking at
their attitudes towards patients, vulnerability, fears and whatever else it is that shapes their tone
13 “Felician Franciscan Ministry,” accessed May 20, 2021,
https://felician.edu/aboutfelicianuniversity/historyandtradition/felicianfranciscanministry/
14 Pope Francis: Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel, 274, 2013.
15 Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, 11.
16 Harvey Max Chochinov, “Dignity in care: time to take action,” Journal of Pain Symptom Manage 46, 5 (
November 2013),756, accessed August 18, 2021, https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S08853924(13)004521/pdf.

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of care towards the patients in Nanyuki. Respecting human dignity is important in any
profession because even behind the simple account of an event there are sentiments, emotions,
and ultimately in people's lives that they touch.
1.3 Display an Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of Sick Person
Both empathy and compassion in healthcare play vital roles in the patience
experience and are key components in our hospital. Felician Sisters, use empathy in their daily
interactions with the patients in the hospital, they are able to listen deeply to the patients as they
express how they feel, without judging them. They display an empathetic in them in their
solidarity by still being present with them by making space for the expression of their suffering
without attempting to change it or shut it down in some way, perhaps by offering explanations or
advice. Patients want to know they are receiving the very best care, and that is conveyed when
their care team is empathetic and compassionate.17
Empathy and compassionate care are not only the responsibility of the healthcare
provider in our hospital, but is also the responsibility of every member of the care team including
the support staff. Patients spend a significant portion of their time interacting with the nurses,
medical assistants, and receptionists. These interactions provide many opportunities for
demonstrating compassion and empathy toward patients. Therefore, training, encouraging, and
ensuring support staff engage in compassionate, empathetic patient care will significantly
influence a patient overall experience. One key area where a patientcentered communication is
especially important is in showing empathy to our patient in our hospital. Empathy means “the
ability to understand how someone else feels because you can imagine what it is like to be
them.”
Felician Sisters displays an empathetic solidarity to the patients in compassionate care by
making sure that patient knows that they are listening to them, being curious about them and
showing them support. They recognize how a patient feels and acknowledge their fears and
anger. This is done by supporting them by responding to both their emotional and medical need
in compassion, which is also a feature of empathy. Empathy and compassion are what connects
17 “Felician Franciscan Ministry,” accessed May 28, 2021,
https://felician.edu/aboutfelicianuniversity/historyandtradition/felicianfranciscanministry/.

11
them emotionally to the patients. Such that when patients receive empathetic care, they
exhibit less anxiousness, improved selfconcept, and lower levels of depression and hostility.
They try to better understand patients’ needs, putting the patients at ease to discuss their
problems and concerns.
Felician Sisters incorporate an empathy in their service to enhance patient care by
listening to the patients and showing them concern about their lives. They show kindness and
respect by providing good assistance that supports a patient’s condition and care for all, keeping
in mind that many patients are uncomfortable discussing sensitive health issues, so they try to
develop a level of comfort and trust that allows for open dialogue. Felician Sisters develop
cultural competence and awareness by trying by all means to understand and respect patient’s
ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, geographic background, and the social group;a fact
that can aid in care . In acknowledging patient’s beliefs, needs, and individuality, empathetic
and effective care is provided.
Felician Sisters working in Mother Angela Huruma Hospital in Nanyuki, lead by
example that is, by exhibiting empathy in promoting good health among the patients which helps
others to establish the same practices, and that positive behavior extends beyond the confines of
health care settings to all nurses and support staff. Whether treating patients or interacting with
others in the community, Felician Sisters encourages positive behavior by displaying positive
traits such as empathy.
1.4 Transformative Attitude of Open Mind and Heart in Service of the Sick
Felician Sisters embrace the transformative process that encourages an open mind and
heart, leading to continuous improvement of the person and ministry in the service of the sick in
the hospital. Adopting a positive attitude as a way of life, helps Felician Sisters cope more easily
with their daily affairs of life in the hospital and bring constructive changes upon the patients.
This make them to be optimistic in compassionate service especially in promoting good heath
among the patients. An open mind is important, it’s crucial for emotional and personal growth.
Without an open mind, there is no way to reach out inoder to lift the spirits of the patients they
serve.18
18 “Felician Franciscan Ministry” accesses June 7,2021,
https://felician.edu/aboutfelicianuniversity/historyandtradition/felicianfranciscanministry/.

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Strong leadership is required to realize the vision of a transformed health care system to
the patients in the hospital. This is done with positive attitudes by Felician Sisters that all must be
leaders in the design, implementation, and evaluation, as well as advocacy for, the ongoing
reforms to the system that is needed.19 They give compassionate service with leadership skills
and competencies that must be applied both within the hospital and in collaboration with other
health professionals. Serving as strong patient advocates, they must be involved in decision
making about how to improve services to the patients. To be effective in their roles and to be
seen and accepted as leaders, Felician Sisters must develop and understand policies that can
enhance their achievement of this goal. Being transformative, their attitude of open mind and
heart in service of the sick, give a voice in health policy and decision making.They are equally
are involved in implementation efforts related to health care reform in the hospital.
Felician Sisters embrace all and allow the Patients to express themselves with an open
mind, open heart; acknowledging the value of emotions, and using this, to make better decisions
in serving patients.This helps Felician Sisters to have a real connection with others, encouraging
connectedness with the patients. This connectedness acts as the foundation of a good life and
promote good health among patients. Open mind and heart allows Felician Sisters to be
different, enabling them to have transformative attitude while offering this compassionate
service.20
1.5 Attitude of Deep Respect, Love, Awe, and Esteem for the Sick
In order to offer compassionate service to Patients in Nanyuki, Felician Sisters
demonstrate an attitude of deep respect, love, awe, and esteem for the sick. Respectful treatment
honors the patients and their family, their unique characteristics not withstanding. Felician
Sisters together with health care team members, take it upon them to focus on creating an
environment that allows them to give the best possible care to all patients . Making patients feel
respected, or valued as a person, is a way that the foundress gave Felician Sisters, an example in
order to promote good health among all the patientswho visit the facility. Respect is morally
19 Transforming Leadership, Institute of Medicine, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,
(Washington DC: The National Academies Press, 2011), 222.
20 Mike Sturn, “Open Mind, Open Heart on mission, values, attitude, and connectedness” Last updated, Nov 1,
2018, Accessed June 9,2021, https://mikesturm.medium.com/openmindopenheartcf41c1b02ae4.

13
important and Felician Sisters expects it in everyday interactions with patients which
helps them to recognize its centrality in every encounter with the patients and their family.
“In addition to the direct moral importance of respectful treatment, there are data
suggesting its indirect importance as well. Recent studies have reported, for example, that
patients who perceive they are being treated respectfully may experience improved clinical
outcomes and greater satisfaction with their care.”21 “Ensuring or improving respect in clinical
and research relationships is surely an important goal, but it will be difficult to accomplish
without knowing more about respect and what it means to be respectful.”22 Caring for the
patients truly is serving Christ, as He commands us to care for one another. In particular, Felician
Sisters are called upon to look after the weak in their time of need and serve them with love as
Christ says in scriptures “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was
in prison and you came to me.” (Mat 25,36).
Felician Sisters compassionate service combined with proper physical care, and
emotional support, has proved truly transformative for many patients who receive services in the
hospitals. It makes them recall the compassionate services offered to them remembering not
only the physical suffering they endured, but also how much better they felt both emotionally
and spiritually after meeting with caring Felician Sisters. By setting an example of
compassionate service, Felician Sisters inspire others such as nurses and support staff members
to do the same. They care about the wellbeing of patients, and are passionate and have a strong
desire to help others and to advocate for what is best for the patients and their families.. “Feeling
good about yourself doesn’t just help you live a happier and more successful life but as it turns
out, it enhances patients’ selfesteem which impacts significantly on a person’s physical
wellbeing, too.”23
21 Joffe S, Manocchia M, Weeks JC, “What do patients’ value in their hospital care? An empirical perspective on
autonomy centered bioethics,” Journal of Med Ethics, 29,2 (April 2003), 103–108, accessed May 20, 2021,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1733711/.
22 Beach MC, Sugarman J, Johnson RL, “Do patients treated with dignity report higher satisfaction, adherence, and
receipt of preventive care?”, Journal of Ann Fam Med 3,4 (July 2005), 331–338, accessed June 5, 2021,
23 Wayne Baker, “Helping to keep your family safe”, May 7, 2020.

14
Felician Sisters helps the patients to have a positive selfesteem, which helps them get
and feel better.This shortens patient’s stay in the hospital. In other words, they address their
patient’s confidence and morale, and ensure they feel empowered, which is critical for driving
better outcomes in promoting good health. Felician value of compassionate service is manifested
by educating patients about their condition and providing all the information they need, which
assists in the decisionmaking process. The more collaborative the process, the more the patient
participates, the more they feel empowered and this makes them have selfesteem.24
1.6 Respect for Diversity and Uniqueness of Each Patient
Felician Sisters in Nanyuki value compassionate service by recognizing and appreciating
the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique. This fosters an environment that
promotes and celebrates both individual and collective achievements in the hospital that brings
all their diversity together. Diversity is incredibly important in the hospital and is essential
because it provides opportunities to administer quality care to patients from all walks of
life. Communication with patients is enhanced and patient care improved especially when
Felician Sisters provide a bridge between the culture of medicine and the beliefs and practices
that make up a patient’s value system, which leads to cultural competency,for instance, the
ability of healthcare services to meet the unique social and cultural needs of the patients.
The value of Compassionate service by Felician Sisters requires understanding others'
values, establishing relationships, and responding to the patints in meaningful ways. However,
Felician Sisters in Nanyuki, play an important role in promoting diversity in the hospital by
fostering an environment of inclusiveness in every area of service.Thi is achieved by making
sure that all voices are heard, and that all tem members feel safe to share their perspectives in
promoting the value of compassionate service. To develop an effective and therapeutic
relationship with a patient, Felician Sisters must establish trust and respect with the patient. They
are to be Sensitive to cultural needs, beliefs, and values, including communication, which is
essential for the interventions to be effective.
24 Bethany Nock, “Boosting Patient SelfEsteem”, Last updated Nov 12, 2019, accessed June 12,2021.
https://www.gebauer.com/blog/boostingpatientselfesteem3tipsfornurses.

15
Sensitive cultural care is not just a phenomenon that takes place when occasionally
encountering strangers in the hospital or providing care to someone from a different religious
background. It is the result of the awareness that everyone belongs to a unique subculture, based
on beliefs and practices and the mindful consideration and space given to each and every patient.
The conscientious Felician can affirm, respect, through deliberate awareness, acceptance, that
nurtures all patients’well being. Communication is the central factor in providing transcultural
care among the patients. Felician Sisters promote this diversity by creating an open work
environment by simply listening which helps them to understand new perspectives, opens their
minds to unseen needs, and shows patients that their opinion matters.This makes the Patients feel
listen to and cared for.
1.7 Selfless Service to the Sick in a Spirit of Humility
Felician Sisters endeavor to offer selfless service to Patients in a spirit of humility and
self abnegation.As a result,they feel the happiness of connecting with the suffering brothers and
sisters and reminds them that God loves and cares for them through the selfless and
compassionate services of sisters. In Humility Felician Sisters are able to make better health care
services in the hospital attending with compassion every detail of service,they can provide in the
hospital.This helps Felician Sisters to attend to patients ‘ needs,recognizing them as unique
persons in need of healing, care, understanding and compassion. Felician Sisters offer
compassionate service in humility which enhances the curative dimension of healthcare.
Felician Sisters see each of the patient magnanimously and approaches each one them
not as interruptions, or as routine; but as persons who have been brought to them by God to
encounter Him through the caring hands of Felician Sisters. whatever time they are with patients,
they serve them wholehearted giving full attention and care With humility, they become more
fully conscious of all that they encounter in their everyday lives. Humility transforms the way
Felician Sisters see the patients especially with respect, compassion, empathy and love.As
Jesus commanded that we love every neighbor who comes our way;for Felician Sisters, it means
loving the neighbor who happens to be a patient in Mother Angela Huruma hospital.

16
In mother Angela Huruma hosipital, patients come in all shapes and sizes, with different
temperaments, personalities and dispositions, and many a times they are not always easy to love.
Felician Sisters are called to love them in a compassionate way. This love means to recognize,
respect and respond to patients’ needs specifically. To love is to genuinely care for patients, to be
committed to their wellbeing and to do whatever it takes to help them alleviate their suffering.
In humility, Felician Sisters fosters this love because humility forms them into persons who are
able to live for others by total self giving. In this respect, humility empowers a love that is
altruistic and caring in the hospital.
It helps Felician Sisters in Nanyuki to sustain their commitment by showing care and
compassion to all of the patients, including the ones who are notoriously difficult to love. Since a
humble Felician Sister recognizes that, none of the sister, no matter how highly educated, trained
and skilled, either knows or can do everything.Felician Sisters endeavor to listen and learn from
others being open to suggestions, and ready to admit ideas from others which may be better than
their own. The medieval theologian St. Thomas Aquinas said that humility "curbs pushiness."26
Aquinas recognized how easy it is for any of us to be pushy, especially when we think we,
alone, know what needs to be done, that we are always right and that we can succeed in our
professions all by ourselves. In a vision, "God says to St. Catherine of Siena, 'I could well have
made human beings in such a way that they each had everything, but I preferred to give different
gifts to different people, so that they would all need each other.”27
1.8 Compassionate Service to the Sick with Inherent Joy and Gladness
In promoting good health among the patients in Nanyuki, Felician Sisters in their
compassionate service to the sick possess an inherent joy, a gladness which is not dependent on
their circumstances and moods, nor emotions or station in life. This joy is constant; it is from
within them because they abide with God. This helps them to give services out of love as the
foundress would say that “to love is to give, give until it hurts.” “Felician Sisters always radiate
joy for the Glory of God, as St. Francis earnestly recommended. They imitate St. Felix and are
always at peace in their simplicity and modesty. This happiness is their particular trait, by which
26 Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, (New York: McGrawHill, 1972), IIII, 161.2.3.
27 Timothy Radcliffe, What Is the Point of Being a Christian? (New York: Burns & Oates, 2005), 141.

17
they will demonstrate that as Felician Sisters which means happiness, they have found the
greatest treasure in complete poverty. In their humility, a source of true joy, they delight in
service which deepens their love and knowlge of God.”28
Following the example of Saint Felix of Cantalice who was known for his pious yet
joyful presence on the streets of Rome, seeking donations for the friars’ ministries to the sick,
Felician Sisters strive to love and joyfully serve the sick with compassionate service in Nanyuki.
Mother Angela Foundress of Felician Sisters truly rejoiced in the happiness of the sisters who
were serving the sick. “I can imagine what joy it is for your hearts to know that in healing bodies
you restore health to many souls”29 Felician Sisters serve the sick with joy for when the patients
are in sorrow and suffering.This gives the patient comfort and assurance that all will be well.The
Joy and humane warmth from Sister radiates hope to the suffering patient sometimes better than
physical medicine.
“If there is a sick person and one wishes to cure him, let one cause joy and happiness in
his heart.” 30 Mother Angela wanted the sisters to be very concerned with the health of the sick,
visit them in their homes and minister to them in hospital, for by caring for them in gladness this
could be a healing medicine for those who suffer pain and the ailing. As Felician Sisters they are
called to walk about daily with fidelity and joy in their service to the sick. It is the road of
compassion on which they meet so many patients in the hospital which gives them hope in their
service. They give compassionate service to the sick and infirm in the most selfless
way,especially to the most vulnerable ones.
It is a daily privilege for Felician Sisters to literally touch Jesus Christ in the sick persons
as they care for them, feed them and make them happy. They know that an important element of
Jesus messianic mission was his service to the sick. In Galilee Jesus was "healing every disease
and sickness among the people" (Matt 4,23). It is the reason why, according to Jesus, they are
called to serve too. Already in (Mk 6,13) we read that the disciples “anointed many sick people
with oil and healed them.” Felician Sisters are characterized by active care for the sick. They are
28 Memoirs of the Congregation: Felician Sisters Second Edition, revised, 83, 8.
29 Angela Truszkowska, Letters to the Sisters Volume I, (New York: Catholic Book Publishing, 1977), 114.
30Abdu'lBaha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, (204).

18
called to serve Christ (Col 3, 24) and to serve others (1 Pt 4,10) since all their life is serving the
sick with joy.
Serving in joy makes one to find real happiness. No one has learned the meaning of
living until one has surrendered his/her ego to the service of his fellow. Service to the sick, the
fulfillment of which brings true joy is what every Felician Sister would long for. “In as much as
you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Mt.
25,40).
Conclusion
The value of compassionate service to the sick in promoting good health among the
patients in Nanyuki has its origin from the very beginning of the Charism of the Felician Sisters.
This value, has enabled Felician sisters to live their charism daily by caring for the sick with
compassion. Felician sisters serve the sick with dignity which enables them to respects all the
patients regardless of their religion, culture, and background. Serving the sick with inherent joy,
with selfless dedication, and in humility and not as a routine or duty. They recognize and respect
the uniqueness of each patient in the hospital. They serve all without discrimination as the
foundress Blessed Mary Angela would tell the sisters to give aid to all during the war in Poland
including the Germany soldiers (enemy) who were wounded fighting the polish people.
The Felician sisters inspired by Mother Angela`s compassionate service in Mother
Angela Huruma Hospital in Nanyuki are committed to living out their mission and core values.
The Felician Mission in the Hospital is to serve with dedicated service to provide
comprehensive, compassionate, and Christlike service to all the patients in the hospital. Serving
the sick with respect, and commitment, promoting and protecting the dignity of patients, enable
Felician Sisters to serve with care which leads to a positive effect on patient wellbeing.Their
endeavor to involve families in the care of the parients makes it easy for all as the patienst are
surrounding with loving care from Sisters and family menbers. Felician Sisters are ble to
establish special bonds with patients that encourages an open mind and heart, leading to
continuous improvement and transformation of the patients.

20
CHAPTER TWO
CHALLENGES IN RESPONDING WITH THE VIRTUE OF COMPASSION
Introduction
This chapter examines the challenges faced in responding with the virtue of Compassion.
This includes challenges that healthcare faces in compassionate service delivery to the sick.It is
sometimes difficult to implement respect for human dignity in a given nvironment due to human
nature. Other challenges includes obstacles to empathetic solidarity with the feelings of the sick
and of inappropriate attitudes resulting in poor patient care. It leads to sometimes to
disrespect,low personal esteem, discrimination, inadequate preparation for those offering
services to the sick, strictness and legalistic approach to service which diminishes the virtue of
compassion.
2.1 Challenges Facing Compassionate Service of the Sick
Challenges facing compassionate service to the sick affects effective treatment of the
sick. For instance, individual character barriers lead to obstacles that decrease compassionate
care at individual levels such as personal attitudes, and lack of a holistic approach towards
compassionate care. Lack of interest ,demotivation, disbelief in compassionate care, and
exhaustion are barriers to compassionate service of the sick. Such that when the motivation is
low, it leads to poor motivation to work and eventual service delivery in kindness and
compassion toward patients. Insufficient attention to holistic care is a barrier to compassionate
service in serving the sick. Moreover, routine work and insufficient clinical experiences may
deter one from responding to the needs of patients in compassion.
Compassion Fatigue also reduces approach to compassionate service delivery to the sick.
The effect of Compassion Fatigue is multifaceted, including physical, emotional, social, spiritual
and intellectual effects. Symptoms of compassion fatigue include; boredom, cynicism, anxiety,
discouragement, intrusive thoughts, irritability, avoidance, numbness, sleep disturbances,
depression, intolerance, detachment and apathy. Compassion fatigue affects working conditions

21
The capacity to feel compassion is affected in part by the woking environment. The
typical work environment of a modern healthcare setting, is at odds with compassionate care,
such that among the facility settings characteristics that affects compassionate service delivery
among the sick includes understaffing in the hospital wards; excessive working shift patterns
among the doctors, nurses and support staff. Lack of enough time to build therapeutic
relationships with patients, lead to stress and burnout among healthcare workers, this weakens
their ability to protect themselves against emotional exhaustion.31
Another factor that affects compassionate service delivery is the demand for long hours
of work. Shifts of 12 or more hours are associated with increased emotional exhaustion and
burnout. Increased fatigue can compromise the ability to regulate emotion and reduce the ability
to cope.when health care workers are increasingly pressured to meet performance goals and
achieve service efficiencies, to do more with less leads to compromised compassionate service
delivery. This leaves little time for nurses to get to know patients which makes it difficult to
identify with them, and therefore hinder compassionates attitudes.
2.2 Difficulties in Implementing Respect for Human Dignity of Sick Persons
Health care workers are faced with difficulties to implement respect and dignity of the
sick persons making it difficult to respond selflessly to the virtue of compassion. When there is
tendency to see patients not as unique individuals but as members of a collective group (the sick)
in the hospital it may lead to discrimination of the targeted patients on grounds of class, gender,
age,inferiority complex.sometimes looking down upon illiterate patients,sillustrates some form
of dignity violation such that diminishment, which involves making a patient feel smaller or
lessened by the form and content of the interaction.32 They tend to label the patients as
invulnerable due to their perceived deficiencies, and this limits them to treat patient with respect
31Laurel Ranger, “The Challenge of Compassion in Modern Healthcare Settings”, Last updated, August 8, 2018,
accessed, 22, July 2021, The Challenge of Compassion in Modern Healthcare Settings Medical Bag.
32 Benson Oduor Ojwang, Emily Atieno Ogutu, and Peter Maina Matu, “Nurses’ impoliteness as an impediment to
patients’ rights in selected Kenyan hospitals,” Last Updated August 13,2013, accessed August 12, 2021,
https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/hhrjournal/2013/08/nursesimpolitenessasanimpedimenttopatientsrightsin
selectedkenyanhospitals/.

22
and dignity.
This tendency promotes discrimination and makes patients feel degraded, that is, a
feeling of worthlessness, humiliation, shame and guilt, as well as anger, associated with
resentment and hostility. Ultimately, it denies patients a sense of belonging by making them feel
different and isolated.The exclusion of some patients,by withholding the information from
them, or failing to explain the requirements to patients 33 When patients are treated with
unsatisfactory reception; denial of the right to respectful and humane treatment; it becomes
difficult to treat patients with respect and dignity of the sick in the hospital. This becomes a
challenge to respond to the virtue of compassion when healthcare workers fail to explain
procedures but become quick to blame the patients of any deviant acts.
They fail to care when they ignore clarifying the procedures to the patients. This form of
violation also exemplify dislike to patients who feel, treated in disgust then in Mother Angela
Huruma hospital,. It also implies exclusion, by making the patient feel unwelcome in or left out
of the social setting.34 The challenge of treating patients in harshness and failure to listen to their
explanation such that the act of dismissing, ignoring, or discounting the patients’ perceptions,
concerns, needs, and feelings violates the right of the patients to express their opinions freely on
matters related to the course of their treatment. When health professionals fail to listen to
patients’ views, they may withhold vital information that would have been useful, for example,
in aiding the diagnosis of their ailments.
The act of being impolite such as being nasty, harassment, embarrassment or showing
disrespect of the patients due to their conditions weaken spirit of compassion. Impolite
utterances therefore impede the accommodative interaction and mutual respect to the patients.
For instance, when patients detest open criticism from the nurses it can lead to damage the
dignity of the patients, which involves sometimes when nurses talk to patients like a child

23
regardless of their adult age. Another way they can violates dignity is through rude language to
the patient such that quarrelling and shouting to the patients instead of explaining to them
procedures. In such instance, the patient feels their dignity diminished for shouting can increase
stress in patients.
When a patient is addressed in harshness, they do not feel good within. The general
consequences of dignity violation include patients’ distrust, disempowerment, apathy,
depression, and loss of hope. It also causes loss of selfesteem, status, confidence, and self
determination.35
2.3 Obstacles to Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of Sick Person
Empathy means having the ability or willingness to understand and reflect back the
feelings of another. Seeing the world through the eyes of another, in an empathetic way can be
challenging. Obstacles to feel with the sick in an empathetic solidarity way can be personal and
interpersonal barriers to empathy. This is when their interaction is influenced reciprocally by the
behavior and responses of the nurses and the patients. When patient’s behavior is judged as
demanding, difficult, hostile, insulting, unappreciative there is tendency to be less empathetic
upon the sick. Sometimes when they lack genuine empathy which is a deeper level of empathy
that rests in the capacity to imagine and to walk in a patient’s shoes which serve as a catalyst that
enable healthcare workers to connect with the patients at a deeper level.36
The challenges facing healthcare provider in responding in the virtue of compassion is
language barrier between the nurses and the patients. This includes lessons in culturally sensitive
physical gestures and the appropriate and inappropriate use of physical touch. Healthcare
professionals serving the sick sometimes are not able to speak the same language with the patient
and may fail to understand them thus leading to lack of empathy. The language barriers generate
tensions and frustrations that demand that they should learn how to respond with empathy to
36 Muntaha Elayyan, Janet Rankin and MW Chaarani, “Factors affecting empathetic patient care behavior among
medical doctors and nurses: an integrative literature review”, Last Updated November 3, 2018, accessed August 2,
2021, https://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/v24/03/EMHJ_2018_24_3_311_318.pdf?ua=1&ua=1.

24
angry or hostile patients and their families. Such training sessions lack which would be
offered on a regular basis, as a way to check the level of burnout and to foster and maintain
empathetic skills.37
Lack of enough committed experience as a resource to develop empathetic behavior,
affect empathy to the sick and no one to enhance role models’ awareness of their responsibility
to model an empathetic care that can be constantly developed and refined, for each instance of
practice especially to the patients who have been characterized as difficult or those expressing
anger. “However, other challenge to empathy is if patients are not so happy with whatever you
prescribe maybe it’s not working and they’re still having symptoms, and they’re calling you
frequently because nothing is quite satisfying that can become challenging merely because it can
make physicians and caregivers feel helpless.”38
Barriers to empathy is also identified in the increase in technology and emphasis on
productivity in medical practice, which influences aspects of patient care. A decrease in effective
communication and a low level of empathy in clinician patient relationships has been interrupted
due to the rise of medical technology and productivity in everyday practice. That mean emphasis
on technology means less interest in empathy. This is because patients feel that clinicians are not
able to understand their situation and then become dissatisfied with their care that diminishing
the virtue of compassion in serving the sick in hospitals.39
2.4 Challenges in appropriate Attitude in Service of the Sick
Healthcare workers faces the challenges in appropriate attitude in service the sick in
compassion. Poor attitudes resulting in poor patient care, severely undermine the ability of the
healthcare to provide quality care and improve outcomes for patients. The challenge in
appropriate attitude affect behavior by causing inadequate understanding of the sick. This is
when there is tendency to be unconcerned about the emotional well‐being of the patients for
37 Abukari Kwame, Pammla M. Petruckab, “Communication in nursepatient interaction in healthcare settings in sub
Saharan Africa: A scoping review,” International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences 12, 2020, accessed August,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139119301490.
38 Helen Riess, “The Empathy Effect: Seven NeuroscienceBased Keys for Transforming the Way We Live, Love,
Work, and Connect Across Differences,” (New York: Sounds True, 2018), 234.
39 The Value of Empathy in The PatientClinician Relationship,” Accessed August 13,2021,
https://ce4less.com/Tests/Materials/TheValueofEmpathyinthePatientClinicianRelationshipCeu.pdf.

25
example, failure to notice aspects of the patients` situation. This challenge in appropriate
attitudes affect behaviors, desire or motivation. Inappropriate attitudes lead health professional
sometimes feels repelled by particular groups of patients for instance, elderly patients, or patients
with terminal illness, or patients from certain ethnic or cultural backgrounds.
The nature of their career and moral obligations in respect to such patients, they may still
find themselves insufficiently motivated to behave towards them in the appropriate way.
Attitudes can give rise to harm, that is both through the offence or upset and through the
deterioration of relationship that those attitudes may cause to be of particular concern in areas of
care where they find heightened emotional sensitivities and vulnerabilities in patients. This is
because it is when patients are most vulnerable that the need for appropriate shows of attitude
from nurses will be most acute and when they display a contemptuous attitude towards a patient,
is likely to be most damaging.40
Other challenges that healthcare professional face in their service to the sick is when
nurses tend to be rude, such that due to what they experience from the patient’s behavior, which
may make them to shout to the patients and gives poor nursing care. Sometimes when patients or
relatives complain, they may sometimes isolate themselves by providing only essential care, this
may lead them to have an attitude sometimes and perhaps drag legs or become reluctant due to
the influence of the patient. This may also lead to a tendency of an attitude of just treating the
sick according to what is written on the book and the patient ends up suffering. Failure to control
this attitude they may even became angry when patients fail to adhere to their prescribed diets or
medications.
Attitude is a negative or positive look of the situation of a patients, ideas, activities or
events. This predisposition towards a patient influences a person’s choice of action, incentives
and rewards. Attitude is important for as it gives it an extra boost, there can be tendency to
assumes it although is necessarily. Sometimes this challenge, may affects nurses in adopting a
cheerful disposition and caring behavior while they are in the hospital. The inappropriate
attitudes received from the patients or family members in the hospital, may influences nurses’
40 Demian Whiting, “Inappropriate attitudes, fitness to practice and the challenges facing medical educators,” Last
updated Nov 12, 2007, accessed July 24, 2021,
Inappropriate attitudes, fitness to practice and the challenges facing medical educators (nih.gov).

26
relationship with the patients. Patient satisfaction depends more on their attitude and this
is what they may miss to focusses while achieving efficiency in the compassionate service.41
Lack of caring attitude toward patients, then there is no promotion of good health among the
patient satisfaction and loyalty, thereby the virtue of compassion is challenged
2.5 Consequences of Disrespect for the Personal Esteem of the Sick
The consequences of disrespectful for the personal esteem of the sick is a challenge in
responding to the virtue of compassion. It leads to poor communication and collaboration,
reduces individual contributions to the patients, undermines support staff morale, increases staff
resignations and absenteeism, creates an unhealthy or hostile work environment, causes some to
abandon their responsibility and ultimately harms patients. When patients are treated with
disrespect it causes them to experience fear, anger, shame, confusion, uncertainty, isolation, self
doubt, depression and low selfesteem. These feelings diminish a patient’s ability to think
clearly, and lose confidence to speak up regarding questions or concerns.42
Disrespectful for the personal esteem of the sick can arise some consequences in hospital
setting, and this could be as a result of both the stressful nature of the environment and human
nature of the individual. When healthcare professional is driven to function in survival mode
when forced to cope with difficult of personal frustrations and system failures, without solving
the issues this would lead them not to care for the sick well due to their own challenges.
“Although personal frustrations and system failures do not excuse disrespectful behavior, they
often create a tipping point by which an individual is pushed over the edge into fullblown
disrespectful behavior. Characteristics of the individual, such as insecurity, anxiety, depression,
aggressiveness, and narcissism, can also kick in and serve as a form of selfprotection against
feelings of inadequacy. Cultural, generational, and gender biases, and current events influencing
mood, attitude, and actions, also contribute to disrespectful behavior.”43
Another challenge faced in health care setting in responding to the virtue of compassion
is when there are differences in communication styles and power dynamics. For example,
41 “Importance of Attitude for Healthcare Professionals,” Updated Last April 8, 2019, accessed August 13, 2021,
https://www.frontenders.in/blog/importanceofattitudeforhealthcareprofessionals.html.
42 Matthew Grissinger, “Disrespectful Behavior in Health Care,” Last updated Feb 3, 2017, accessed July 25, 2021
43 Grissinger, “Disrespectful Behavior in Health Care.”

27
physicians may get frustrated when nurses present information in more detail than they
believe is necessary. Nurses also may get frustrated when physicians do not seem interested in
the information provided. These differences in communication styles can lead to disrespectful
behavior. The hierarchical nature of health care and a sense of privilege and status can lead those
at the top of a hierarchy to treat others lower on the hierarchy with disrespect.44
Sometimes when health care organizations fed the problem of disrespectful behavior for
years in the hospital and ignore and yet it is reported, they feed the problem of disrespectful
behavior thereby tacitly accepting such behaviors. When they permit a certain degree of
disrespect while considering this as normal style of communication this disvalue the virtue of
compassion in promoting good health. Failure to address disrespectful behavior in the hospital
for a variety of reasons, such that the behavior typically occurs daily but often goes on un
reported due to fear of retaliation and the stigma associated with whistle blowing. When they
imply that, the patient might be illiterate and attributing their ignorance of hospital procedures to
this presupposition, they demean and intimidate the patient, hence damaging their selfesteem.
Here, the patient’s experience illustrates the violation known as objectification, in which a
patient is treated like a thing and not a person.45
2.6 Challenges Related to Discriminative Services of Patient
The challenges related to discriminative services of patients is an impediment in
responding to the virtue of compassion. This will be felt when there is a temptation to treat a
patient differently, or worse than others rather than providing equal care to all patients,
regardless of their demographic status or other characteristics. When patients are discriminated,
it will mainly lead to resistance, conflict, shock, damage, anxiety, depression, and
disappointment and patients strongly feel that they are betrayed and this can be a harmful factor.
Thus, the virtue of compassion is diminished.46
When there is tendency of discrimination in hospital settings, this may lead to patients
disengaging from the hospital, thereby negatively affecting future health professionals’
46 Rafii Forough, Ghezeljeh Tahereh and Nasrollah Sepiden, “Discriminative nursing care: A grounded theory
study”, Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 10,7 (July 2019), 2289–2293, accessed July 20, 2021,

28
encounters with patients and patients’ health. Finally, discriminative service care directly
leads to unqualified care and diminishes the compassionate service. Challenges related to
discriminative service to the sick may occurs due to nurses, and patient's characteristics. When
nurses serve the sick reluctantly can be perceived as discriminative care. Sometimes there can be
a tendency to feel that caring for those who are terminally ill is futile, because the disease is not
curable and the nurses may feel like they are wasting their energy and time.
This will lead to a feeling of discrimination towards the terminally ill patients and thus
challenges the virtue of compassion in the service to the sick and promotion of good health.
When healthcare givers adopts negative attitudes toward the patient's characteristics, there is a
risk of falling into the trap of discriminative care. This is manifested especially when they take
care of the patient properly on the first day of admission in the ward, but upon realizing that one
of the patients is badtempered or badmouthed, then they get an attitude and fail to take good
care of this patient. The patients’ temper and behavior could lead the caraegivers to avoid
specific patienst and fail to offer compassionat care in a timely manner.47
Sometimes the challenges related to discriminative service provision to the sick is
aggravated when healthcare givers avoid serving the patients and fails to physically attend or
communicate to them. This results to the patient especially the terminally ill to feel rejected or
discriminated.The patient may get annoyed;have discomford;feel sadness;be heartbreaken,feel
grief, and might even cry in reaction.This may affect recovery and eventual well being of the
patient leading to prolonged hospital stay with dire financial implication.. In other words, the
patient ends up paying more for his or her treatment and care procedures, and prolonged hospital
stay. 48
2.7 Inadequate Generosity in Service to the Sick in a Spirit of Humility
The virtue of generosity implies giving good things to others freely and generously.This
practice of generosity begin when caregivers welcome patients warmly and offers whatever the
patient may neeed as a sign of true hospitality. What limits generosity is lack of love and
humility in their service to the sick. To be generous is demanding, and it needs selfless
47 Forough, et. al., “Discriminative nursing care, 2290.
48 Forough, et. al., “Discriminative nursing care, 2293.

29
dedication and sacrifice. Greed diminishes the acts of generosity, and thus diminishes the virtue
of compassionate service. When healthcare professionals serves the sick with no humility, it
becomes like any service rendered by anyone without the mission to be compassionate.The care
to the patient is rendered as duty or obligation.
Humility would make Haealth Professionals know that they have much to learn,by
listening to the patients and being ready to take any tasks the patients requires. This is a
challenge in living the virtue of compassion, as Mother Mary Angela the foundress of the
Felician Sisters would say that: “Like a good and faithful servant of Christ bear these difficulties
which distress and afflict you, with a patient heart and with humility."49 Lack of humility by
healthcare workers in hospital , limits them in promoting good health care practices. Humility
leads one to do any task, no matter how small, simply out of love for God and others. Pride
maks one complain over small issues.
Sometimes they may not be able to make any significant progress toward better care
giving when they fail to humble themselves. It is difficult to offer health care in humility when
one is self conceited. When they fail to listen to others and perceives themselves better than
others,it becomes difficult to offer service in humility and generosity. “A person who is not
humble does not have a growth mindset for pride robs a person of their ability to achieve.”50
“Lack of humility jeopardizes chances that give compassion in situations when patients find
themselves very down,since no one is ready to lift them up in spirit.. Lack of humility is
reflected when one lacks selfawareness and fails to acknowledge their mistakes. As such
patients perceive them as proud, narcists and unforgiving to their face.”51
False humility, on the other hand, may appear as if the person is humble but in reality,
has pride in disguise. Examples of false humility include; searching for praise, performing one’s
duty to draw attention; talking about how humble they are, falsely portraying helplessness or a
lack of power, and selfdeprecating humor. False humility can be manifestation of an inferiority
49 Angela Truszkowska, Selected Writings, Volume III, Various Writing, (New York: Catholic Book Publishing,
1984), 128.
50 Century City, “The Importance of Humility” Last updated Apr. 14, 2020, accessed July 28, 2021
https://www.gloveworx.com/blog/importancehumility/.
51 Shagufta Tahir, “What is your personal view on lack of humility” Last updated 2004, accessed July 28, 2021,
https://www.quora.com/Whatisyourpersonalviewonlackofhumility.

30
complex. This is to believe and act as if one is inferior to other people. It is a form of self
loathing and low self esteem.52 This is a wrong way of understanding humility,and may pose
challenges to healthcare workers in responding to the spirit of compassion.
2.8 The impact of being too strict and legalistic in service of the sick
The impact of being too strict and legalistic in the service to the sick poses a challenge to
the healthcare workers in responding to the virtue of compassion. Being strict and legalist is a
tendency of putting many rules and regulations on others such as upon the patients and
coworkers; warning them not to breakany regulations.This makes the Health care givers anxious
and indecisive. By insisting on others to live according to their rules and opinions, which limit
others’ freedom, make Health workers react by ingoring to offer compassionate service freely
and generously in humility. This leads to te workers just doing their best to perform their jobs or
to complete tasks mechanically and sometimes leads to litigations against them by patients.
Being too strict is counter productive because it undermines efforts to do the right
things.The focus is directed only on obeying fixed rules hence destroying the broader context of
God’s love, compassion and redemption. Thus, legalism tend to destroy the disposition and any
desire to serve with compassion.53 Legalistic management leads to counter productivity reflected
by healthcare givers serving the patients in a cold way, without respect.In other words,
healthcare may be tempted to provide routine care like a robost, regardless of the patient's
needs.When they take routine tasks like robots, without paying attention to other needs of the
patients they concentrate on following the rules without any creativity.54
Such kind of legalism is devastating because it ignores or underestimates the role of inner
attitude and motivation. It may lead one to focus upon selfeffort rather than dependence upon
God. It tends to impose one’s personal convictions on others, and to condemn them if they fail to
live up to our rules.55 The goal to offer services through the virtue of compassion is curtailed by
52 RandyConley, “4 Ways to Overcome the Danger of False Humility” accessed July 29, 2021,
https://leadingwithtrust.com/2019/10/06/4waystoovercomethedangeroffalsehumility/.
53R.C. Sproul, “Types of Legalism,” Last updated Jul 17, 2019, accessed August 2, 2021,
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/3typeslegalism/.
54 Rebecca Root, “The rise of the robohealth worker,” Last updated June 16, 2020, accessed August 13, 2021,
https://www.devex.com/news/theriseoftherobohealthworker97414.
55 Robert Deffinbaugh, “LegalismDangers”, accessed August 2, 2021,
https://gracequotes.org/topic/legalismdangers/.

31
legalistic application of rules leading to poor personal relationships..
Conclusion
Understanding the challenges faced in responding to the virtue of compassion in the
hospital is the first step towards learning to put more efforts and seek for better means to treat the
patients and promote good health. In order to improve compassionate services , steps should be
taken to overcome challenges and improve the care of the patients. Attention to human
dimensions in respecting patients’ dignity, holistic and empathetic care in humility, changes of
attitudes, serving in generosity, and the emotional, physical, and mental needs of the healthcare
professional, and support staff is required.It is imperative to understand patients background,their
culture,religion and social orientations inoder to treat them with dignity and respect as demanded
of by virtue of compassionate service. More attention should be given on the concept of virtue of
compassion and patientcentered care, serving motivated by love rather than strictness in
observing rules.

32
CHAPTER THREE
PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE SERVICE TO THE SICK
Introduction
In this chapter the researcher gives the strategies that Felician Sisters can apply for
overcoming challenges facing compassionate service to Patients in Nanyuki. Oneway Felician
Sisters take is to embrace a value of compassionate service to the sick, and respect the dignity of
each patient and treat them in a humane value. Other way is to serve the sick in an empathetic
way being in solidarity to their feelings. Other strategies that Felician Sisters use to overcome
the challenge of compassionate service is to apply a Felician value of transformative attitudes of
open mind and heart and treats patients in Nanyuki with deep respect, love, awe and esteem.
Other strategies includes; respecting diversity and uniqueness of the patients, offering selfless
service to the sick in a spirit of humility, inherent joy and gladness.
3.1 Felician Value of Compassionate Service of the Sick in Nanyuki
Compassion is described as a core value by the Felician sisters in their ministry. Felician
Sisters are to promote the value compassionate service by displaying an empathetic
consciousness of while treating the sick. They totally surrender to God which impels them to
reach out to the sick with joyful, compassionate hearts. They also show an appreciation of the
needs of the patients in loving way. Felician Sisters are called to be compassionate in an
empathetic way towards the sick for this relieves the pain and suffering of the patients. They
should treat all the sick with compassion, gentleness, kindness and devotion.56 Providing
Compassionate care makes patients more comfortable when they are in pain, feeling ill or
suffering from mental or emotional stress.
By demonstrating compassion, they provide the patients with the support and confidence
they need to prepare for recovery; face a frightening surgical procedure; or fight a devastating
disease.”57 In the holistic approach, attention should be given to all the patients and their families
56 Frankowska Elizabeth, The Felician Charism: In the Light of the Constitutions of 1874, (Lodi: Congregation of
the sisters of St. Felix), 1974, 50.
57 Moira K. McGhee, “Compassionate Nurse: The Importance of Compassion in Nursing,” Last Updated, October
29, 2018, accessed September 7,2021, https://www.americanmobile.com/nursezone/nursingnews/compassionate
nursetheimportanceofcompassioninnursing/.

33
such that caring for a patient, they should not just focus on a specific problem, rather they
should consider the patient's other needs and problems, and this would make patients
satisfied.They are to recognize and affirm the good works and accomplishments of others such as
nurses and support staff and provide caring support to those in need of our help, such that when
they are to be motivated in their work and serve the patients with kindness and compassion.
Felician Sisters must provide exceptional and compassionate healthcare services, along
with an honest respect for all times, and a dedication to preserve the private dignity and well
being of these they serve, while recognizing the honorable purpose of their patients in
Nanyuki. Within the holistic approach, Felician Sisters should focus to all or any the patients and
their families such once they look after a patient, they ought to not just specialize in a selected
problem, rather they ought to consider the patient's other needs and problems, and this is able to
make patients satisfied. Felician Sisters should safeguard themselves against compassion fatigue
in their service by taking care of themselves like in activities, rituals and routines that help to
promote individual holistic wellness.
Getting enough rests and relaxation, and workout activites as well as participating in
prayer or spiritual ritual. It is essential also to determine boundaries with the patients in order to
maintain respect and work ethics. The Sisters have to demonstrate compassion while being
mindful that they are serving different people with different needs. This awareness can help
Felician Sisters in serving the sick in the hospital while avoiding compassion fatigue. The
strategies for selfcare, stress management, and relaxation are importance of selfcare to take care
of Sister in order to avoid burnouts.They also need to have a therapeutic patient
relationship that's support mutual trust and respect, thus nurturing of religion and hope, being
sensitive to self and assisting with the gratification the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual
needs professionary.
Effective verbal and nonverbal communication is a crucial part of interaction; providing
compassionate care in a manner that permits the patient to be an equal partner in the journey to

34
achieving wellness.58 They will need also to make a step to implement policies that
reduce fatigue to avoid working for long hours in shifts of 12 or more hours to avoid increased
emotional exhaustion and burnout. The ministry of caring for the sick is a timehonored practice
of the church and an act of agape exemplified by Jesus’ compassion for those who were
suffering. If they desire to increase the effectiveness of the hospital visits, they must seek to
exemplify the same traits of compassion, agape and empathy that characterized the ministry of
Jesus.59
3.2 Respect for Human Dignity of the Sick in Nanyuki
One of the foremost important values Felician Sisters is the emphasy of treating the sick in
respect the dignity. This means that they treat patients with kindness and thoughtfulness as they
serve, valuing human dignity, acknowledging the rights of every patient, and maintaining
privacy. As their core values, they believe that each person is made by God, therefore, they
respect the dignity of each person, no matter race, religion, or socioeconomic status. Then they
demonstrate a reverence for and commitment to promoting and protecting the dignity of
persons. The Felician sisters work hard to give compassion to patients in their hospitals by
respecting the dignity of patients and treating patients as unique individuals with different
characteristics.
This may be done by taking note of their concerns and invite opinions and allow them to
know they are important. Showing respect for human life and human dignity means providing
them with effective pain medication and whatever other support they have. It means seeing the
face of Christ within the sick, the disabled and therefore the dying, and responding with an
equivalent love and compassion that Blessed Mary Angela the foundress showed to those she
encountered. St. Paul letter to Colossian’s address that, for in him were created all things in
heaven and on earth, the visible and therefore the invisible, all things were created through him
and for him, he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:1617).
58 Kornhaber Rachel, Walsh Kenneth, “Enhancing adult therapeutic interpersonal relationships in the acute health
care setting: An integrative review” Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 9, (Oct 2016) 537–546,
59 Emmanuel L. Williams, “Showing Compassion for the Sick: The Biblical basis behind hospital visits, and how to
prepare yourself for showing compassion,” Influence, Last Update January 11, 2017, accessed August 7,2021
https://influencemagazine.com/practice/showingcompassionforthesick.

35
Felician Sisters should treat all the sick with respect for each human person possesses a God
given dignity. Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that
everybody should think of his neighbor (without any exception) as another self, in
particular bearing in mind his life and therefore the means necessary for living it with dignity.60
Moreover, Felician Sisters are to treat all patients with respect without labelling them as they
are vulnerable regardless of their perceived deficiencies. They ought to treat patients with
satisfactory reception, respectful and humane treatment.The necessity to elucidate procedures to
the patients which is important as it makes the patient feel welcome within the social setting may
be a strategy for promoting compassionate service to the sick.
They have to allow the patients to express their opinions freely on matters regarding their
treatment. This is often helpful in getting vital information that is useful, for instance, in aiding
the diagnosis of their ailments. Politeness brings an environment of accommodation in
interaction and mutual reference to the patients. One important implication is that Felician
Sisters are inclined to share with their patients, with a sense of honor and
esteem, although practical restrictions constrains the ways which they do so. They are always
some ways during which respect is often shown, for instance, in reference to how any
individual is addresses the patient without presuming familiarity.
Felician sisters are to ensure patients’ privacy, using all means availbale as demonstration
of respect.They should always apologize for any lack of courtesy or kindness. In serving the ill,
Pope Francis urges healthcare professionals to always strive to promote the dignity and lifetime
of everyone, and reject any compromise within the direction of euthanasia, suicide or
suppression of life, even within the case of terminal illness. He reminds us that life is sacred and
belongs to God, hence it is inviolable and nobody can claim that it is proper to eliminate it
freely. When you can not provide a cure, you will still be able to provide care and healing,
through gestures and procedures that give comfort and relief to the sick.61
This aids Felician Sisters in Nanyuki hospital to treat patients with respect despite their
terminal illness. The Church could also be a patient advocate, working to form sure proper take
60 Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Nairobi, Paulines Publication Africa, 1994), 1931.
61 Robin Gomes, “Pope’s message for World Day of the Sick,” January 2018, accessed August 8, 2021,
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/202001/popefrancisworlddaysickmessage2020.html.

36
care of the sick and dying by promoting respect for his or her dignity. The Church is
physician and nurse, the good Samaritan who treats the wounded and abandoned and never
walks by. The Church is additionally the innkeeper who provides the hospital, home, and hospice
for care and Comforts.62.
3.3 Display an Empathetic Solidarity with the Feeling of the Sick in Nanyuki
Empathy is defined as the flexibility to know share the emotion of another. It is the capacity
to place one’s self in another’s shoes and feel what that person goes through and share their
emotions and feelings.63 As Jesus heard the cry of the sick and healed them, Felician sisters in
Mother Angela Huruma hospital are to have pity which is the feeling of sorrow and compassion.
The ability to recognize patients’ feelings facilitates in getting a more accurate diagnoses and
appropriate caring treatment. The strategy Felician Sisters use to eliminate obstacles faced in
their compassionate service in serving the sick in Nanyuki empathically in solidarity towards the
feelings of the sick is to promote compassionate service by displaying an empathetic solidarity to
take care of the entire person in an exceedingly holistic manner.
Expressing patient empathy, advances humanism in healthcare and it is the key ingredient
to reinforce the patient experience and patient encounter, it is important for humane care.64 The
worth of empathy helps Felician Sisters to work out situation from patient’s perspective. This
enables them to grasp more deeply how a patient feel and what they may need which helps in
administering successful treatment. Felician Sisters are called to understands the patient’s
situation, and feelings, communicates with understanding and accuracy, and acts on them in an
understanding way which is exceedingly helpful, and therapeutic way. They have to own clear
communication with patients to promote compassionate service in a necessary safe way in caring
for the sick.
Developing rapport and gaining patient trust aids in geting a comprehensive patient
history, learning relevant clinical information, and increases emotional engagement in treatment.
62 “What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?”, accessed September 7, 2021,
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/whatarepalliativecareandhospicecare.
63 Jerry stone, “Importance of Empathy,” Last Update January 2019, accessed September 7, 2021,
https://blog.medicalgps.com/theimportanceofempathyinhealthcare/.
64 Jerry Stone, “The Importance of Empathy in healthcare: Advancing Humanism,” Last Update January 28,2019,
accessed August 20, 2021, https://blog.medicalgps.com/theimportanceofempathyinhealthcare/.

37
They have to know that patients come from various backgrounds and life situations,
bringing with them different sets of beliefs, struggles and cultures. It is necessary to pay attention
and comprehend a patient’s story, for this makes that patient feel understood and validated. It is
important to acknowledge that cultural factors play a role in how a patient perceives any given
situation or diagnosis. They have to familiarize with different cultures and understanding diverse
patient backgrounds which might help to higher relate to how the patients feel about their health
situation.
Empathy that is effectively expressed by Felician Sisters to the patients lessen the patients’
sense of isolation during their hospitalization and is strongly therapeutic in its own right. Felician
Sisters promote good health among all the patients in Nanyuki hospital in a compassionate
service delivery. They have to boost their attention to a patient’s facial expressions, tone of
voice, and nonverbal visual communication. For they become more attuned to a patient’s spirit
then they are going to be better equipped to respond with more empathy to the patient’s
emotional concerns. Felician Sisters display an empathetic service to the sick in solidarity to
patients feeling by actively being attentive to them, and expressing that they understand what
patients say. This help Felician Sisters to know what the patient is feeling, in order to relate to
them. Treating the sick with compassionate empathy helps them to create a trusting reference
to by specializing in the patient's point of view.
This strengthens communication because they will gain an understanding of how patients
are coping and what they are experiencing.65 This strategy helps them essentially in promoting a
dialogue with patients about their discomfort, worries and preferences in Nanyuki. Other
strategies that Felician Sisters go for to promote compassionate service in Nanyuki is to
include empathy within the service practice for it makes a difference. It also calms a patient, ease
their pain and lessen their burdens through simple changes and gestures. Being empathetic they
inspire coworkers to deal with others in the same way. By practicing empathy within
the workplace, they will reduce stress for patients, coworkers, support staff and other healthcare
professionals. It also supports ethical interactions among all employees and forms respectful and
65 Abukari Kwame, Pammla M. Petruckab, “Communication in nursepatient interaction in healthcare settings in sub
Saharan Africa: A scoping review,” International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences 12, 2020, 19, accessed
August, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139119301490.

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