Compassion: 
Is the suffering we experience through another’s suffering and our desire to help. It allows nurses to “treat people as individuals and not as a disease” (Jakimowicz, Perry & Lewis, 2017, p.1604).  Such a quality, can not be replaced by machines. A genuine and gentle reminder that we are all human beings. And no matter our differences, we are connected, through care and through empathy. Compassion lies in the way in which nurses ‘provide care that respects human rights’ (ICN .1, 2012) of all background, age and race. Therefore; true compassion can only exist if a nurse is ‘free of bias and racism, [and] challenges belief upon assumption’ (NMBA .3.1a, 2017) compassionate care

requires ‘effective communication’ (NMBA .3.3, 2017) to gain full understanding of needs and desires    of all involved, while competently ‘adhering to professional boundaries’ (NMBA .4.1, 2017)

 
Competence:
A competent nurse meets ‘standards … that promote quality care’ (ICN .2, 2012) … ‘based on contemporary, relevant and well founded knowledge’ (Australian Code of Ethics 4.5) A competent nurse will then use this evidence based knowledge coupled with interpersonal skills such as compassion and confidence to work ethically, legally and within their own scope of practice.

Confidence:
 Is our trust and understanding of our own competence. Confidence is built through experience, practice and development of knowledge. To be confident is to form the ability to “recognise one’s strengths and limitations” (Crisp & Taylor, 2009, p.251). so that they can ‘practise safely, effectively and collaboratively’(NMBA, 2017) and ‘with the continual learning and competence’ (ICN .2, 2012) A confident nurse has a strong belief in self, conscience and in how their work has a positive contribution to the patient and the community.

Commitment:
Commitment is a mindset, both conscious and subconscious. That is the ability to treat every task, every moment and every interaction with the highest level of care. As a nurse we have moral and ethical commitment to provide ‘holistic care’ (NMBA 3.1a, 2017) that is ‘person-centred... [and aligns with] a person’s care and concerns … [and] values’ (NMBA 2.2a, 2017)

We have an overall commitment and responsibility ‘to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care’ (NMBA 2.1, 2017)

Conscience:
Our sense of right or wrong within our scope of practice. Influenced by our ability to see from a patients point of view, and provide a level of care that we would want to receive.

It “obliges a nurse to do their duty for the sake of the patient” (Jensen & Lidell, 2009, p.35). As ‘the nurse’s primary professional responsibility is to people requiring nursing care’(ICN.1, 2012)

Conscience may mean ‘advocating on behalf of the person when necessary’ (NMBA 2.2b, 2017) which   requires a level of confidence.

Comportment:
Is our professional presentation. Its our appearance, attitude and how we behave.

 Nurses must ‘monitor and promote personal health’ (ICN .2, 2012) through self care in order to care for others. If we ‘maintain [our] physical and mental health’ (NMBA .7.1, 2012) it will reciprocate into ‘[our] competence for practice’ (ICN .2, 2012).

References:
Jensen, A., & Lidell, E. (2009). The influence of conscience in nursing. Nursing Ethics, 16(1), 31-42. doi:10.1177/0969733008097988

Jakimowicz, S., Perry, L., & Lewis, J. (2017). Insights on compassion and patient-centred nursing in intensive care: A constructive grounded theory. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(7-8), 1365-2702 doi: 10.1111/jocn.14231

 
Crisp, J., & Taylor, C. (Ed.). (2009). Potter & Perry’s Fundamentals Of Nursing (3^rd ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Mobsy Elsevier 

International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2012). The ICN code of ethics for nurses. Switzerland: International Council of Nurses. Access at: www.inc.ch

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) (2017). Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia. Melbourne: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2018). Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia. Melbourne: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Roach, M. S. (2013). Caring: The human mode of being. In M. Smith, M. Turkel & Z. Robinson Wolf (Eds), Caring in nursing classics: An essential resource (pp. 165-179). New York, NY Springer Publishing Company.