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Chapter 2: Compassionate Threads Across Nursing History

Abstract

In a profession facing workforce shortages, burnout, technological disruption, and increasing complexity, compassion can no longer be assumed. It must be intentionally cultivated. Cultivating Compassion in Nursing: From Learner to Leader reframes compassion as more than an innate trait, presenting it as a teachable, measurable, and sustainable professional skill. Drawing on nursing science, neuroscience, leadership research, and real-world case studies, Tim Cunningham demonstrates how compassion strengthens human connection while supporting resilience in today’s healthcare environments. Through evidence-based research, reflective exercises, storytelling, art, and companion learning tools, readers learn to: 

  • Develop compassion as a professional competency
  • Build resilience and meaningful connections
  • Address cultural and organizational barriers to compassionate care
  • Lead with humanity in complex healthcare settings
  • Foster sustainable cultures of compassion across care environments

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Description

The attached file contains the following:

Front Cover; Back Cover; Title Page, Copyright Page, About the Author, Contributing Authors, Learner Workbook Available, Special Note to Readers, Forward, Introduction, Chapter 2, References

Identifiers:

ISBN: 9781646482559

EPUB ISBN: 9781646482566

PDF ISBN: 9781646482573

Sigma Nursing, Indianapolis, IN, September 2026

©2027

Author Details

Tim Cunningham, DrPH, MSN, RN, FAAN, is an internationally renowned keynote speaker and expert on healthcare professional well-being. He works with interprofessional teams to promote systemic well-being for healthcare professionals, university staff, researchers, and students. He also serves on the board of directors of Clowns Without Borders, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating suffering through laughter. After graduating with a BA in English from the College of William & Mary, Cunningham’s professional journey began in the performing arts. He performed on international stages for nearly a decade as a professional actor. As a member of Actors’ Equity, he realized the importance of shared governance and representation when it comes to creative work.

Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, CPCHE, FAAN, is the founder and CEO of NotOnMyWatch Consulting Partners. She coined the hashtag #notonmywatch out of frustration at the rising rate of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Horton believes nurses can change the trajectory of morbidity and mortality. She served as the 2025 President of the Association of Women’s Health Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses.

Reynaldo Capucao, Jr., PhD, RN, is a historian of nursing and healthcare affiliated with the Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry at the University of Virginia. His scholarly activities comprise the history of nursing and medicine; transnational and comparative studies of race, ethnicity, and empire; development and the Global South; care ethics and disability studies; and health and migration policy.

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Book Chapter

ISBN

9781646482559

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Expert Opinion (nationally/internationally recognized)

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Nursing Practice, Nursing Staff, Nursing Role, Compassion, Self-Compassion, Clinical Competence, Resilience, Hardiness, Professional Burnout--Prevention and Control, Empathy, Well-Being, Healthy Workplace, Work Environment

Publisher

Sigma Theta Tau International

City

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Version

Publisher's Version

Rights Holder

Copyright © 2026 by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing - All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Any trademarks, service marks, design rights, or similar rights that are mentioned, used, or cited in this book are the property of their respective owners. Their use here does not imply that you may use them for a similar or any other purpose.

Review Type

None: Professionally Edited Material

Acquisition

Publisher-submission

Date of Issue

2026-10-02

Full Text of Presentation

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[Excerpt from] Cultivating Compassion in Nursing: From Learner to Leader

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