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The Satir Model in Developing Empathy in Nursing Communication
*Cheng Kong Chee
1
, Siti Fatimah Md Shariff
2
, Fatimah Yusooff
3
1.2
Faculty of Technology and Applied Sciences, Open University Malaysia.
3
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Open University Malaysia.
DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.910000148
Received: 14 April 2025; Accepted: 22 April 2025; Published: 06 November 2025
ABSTRACT
Beyond verbal exchanges, nursing communication frequently needs to address patients’ emotional and
psychological needs, which calls for empathy and emotional sensitivity. To improve patient care and results,
therapeutic relationships and nursing communication are encouraged. Through the alignment of self-awareness,
emotional expression, and genuine interaction, the Satir Model can improve nurses’ capacity to emotionally
connect with patients.
Background And Purpose
Originally created for family therapy, the Satir Model placed a strong emphasis on emotional exploration and
self-worth, both of which are critical for developing empathy. This article assesses how the model’s tenets can
be implemented in nursing practice to enhance the quality of care and the relationships between nurses and
patients. The purpose of the review is to investigate the Satir Model, a humanistic communication technique, as
a means of advancing nursing empathy.
Methodology
Using search engines like Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, a thorough
search with keywords like Satir Model and Iceberg Metaphor communication in healthcare settings, with an
emphasis on how it fosters empathy.
Results
According to the review, the Satir Model improves nursing’s capacity for empathic communication. The Iceberg
Metaphor and emotional awareness, according to key findings, enhance nurses’ comprehension and
responsiveness to patients’ underlying emotional needs. Improved patient rapport, less emotional burnout, and
greater job satisfaction were reported by nurses using the model.
Conclusion
A useful framework for developing empathy in nursing communication is provided by the Satir Model. By
emphasizing emotional alignment, it enables nurses to build stronger bonds with patients, improving therapeutic
alliances and patient outcomes. More patient-centered, compassionate care may result from incorporating the
model into nursing practice and education.
Keywords: Satir Model, Empathy, Nursing Communication
INTRODUCTION
This paper argues that the Satir Model’s emphasis on congruence, self-awareness, and emotional exploration
offers a novel framework to address systemic empathy deficits in nursing communication, bridging gaps between
patient-centred care ideals and clinical realities (Nembhard et al. 2022). Effective communication forms the
foundation for delivering high-quality patient care and fostering strong therapeutic relationships. Nurses engage
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in complex interactions with patients, their families, and interdisciplinary teams, necessitating both technical
expertise and interpersonal skills. Clear, empathetic communication enhances patient assessment, treatment
outcomes, and satisfaction, while poor communication may lead to misunderstanding, medical errors, and
compromised care. Given healthcare’s complexity and emotional demands, empathetic communication is
essential to ensure patient well-being.
Empathy—the ability to understand and share others’ feelings—enables nurses to provide holistic, patient-
centred care. It builds trust, reduces anxiety, and fosters a sense of being heard and understood. Research
demonstrates that empathetic communication improves patient compliance, health outcomes and overall patient
satisfaction (Derken et al., 2013; Mudiyanse, 2016; Flickinger et al., 2016). However, barriers such as time
constraints, emotional burnout, and clinical pressures often inhibit empathetic communication (Derken et al.,
2016; Kiani & Ahmadi, 2019). Therefore, nursing educators seek effective frameworks to foster empathy in
students. The Satir model provides one such framework (William & Stickley, 2010; Engbers, 2020). Considering
these challenges, nursing educators have sought effective methods to promote empathy in students. The Satir
model, a therapeutic framework based on promoting self-awareness and interpersonal communication, offers a
promising approach (William & Stickley, 2010; Engbers, 2020). This paper examines how the Satir Model’s
principles of congruence and self-awareness can uniquely address empathy deficits in nursing communication,
offering a transformative framework for education and practice.
Theoretical Foundations of the Satir Model
The Satir Model started with the work of Virginia Satir, a pioneering figure in family therapy. Scholars consider
Virginia Satir a pioneer and refer to her as “The Mother in Family Therapy” (UNC Satir, 2018; Wretman, 2017).
She received numerous awards both during her lifetime and after her death. In 2007, Psychotherapy Networker
magazine was 25 years old and surveyed to find out the 10 most influential psychotherapists, and she won “the
fifth most influential therapist” (Vaughanbell, 2007). After she passed in 1988, the Satir Model successfully
integrated in over 31 different contexts and populations worldwide (Erker, 2017). Several organisations, such as
the Mental Research Institute (MRI), the International Human Learning Resources Network (IHLRN), and the
Satir Global Network, which she organised towards the end of her life, still hold weekly educational meetings
open to the public about various ways to incorporate Satir’s teachings into private practice or social activism.
Averbeck (2023) explained that the Satir Model developed over time as Virginia Satir grew more on her model.
For example, at the model's inception, the communication was congruent, and the model gradually developed
through the stages of the human validation model, change therapy and Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy
(STST). In nursing, the Satir Model’s survival stances manifest in common scenarios. For instance, nurses under
time constraints may adopt a super-reasonable stance (e.g., prioritising protocols over patient emotions), while
burnout may trigger blaming (e.g., criticising non-compliant patients). The model equips nurses to replace these
stances with congruent communication, fostering trust and reducing miscommunication.
Communication Stage
The first stage of the model, which took place during the 1950s and 1960s, concentrated on communication.
Virginia Satir observed that individuals under stress would often resort to specific indirect communication
patterns rooted in their childhood experiences within their family origin (Satir et al., 1991). She identified four
primary communication styles, or “survival coping stances”:
Placating: This involves “people-pleasing”, where individuals devalue themselves while overvaluing others to
cope with stress.
Blaming: This style is characterised by overvaluing one’s own perspective while devaluing that of others, often
as a means of asserting control.
Super-reasonableness: In this style, neither individual perspective is valued; instead, the context or rules take
precedence. People using this style often communicate in a manner that seems detached or overly analytical,
akin to a scientist.
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Irrelevance: Here, individuals distract themselves and others by avoiding the subject entirely, failing to value
their perspective, others’ perspectives, or the context.
Satir introduced congruence as the ideal fifth communication style, where individuals communicate their
thoughts and feelings directly and authentically. This congruent communication style forms the foundation of
healthy interactions. Today, these communication styles are collectively referred to as “survival coping stances”
within the Satir Model (De Little, 2021).
Human Validation Model
The Human Validation Model emerged during the 1970s and gained prominence in the 1980s, also known as the
Satir Growth Model or Seed Model (Banmen & Maki-Banmen, 2014; Satir & Baldwin, 1983). In this stage,
Satir presented an alternative to what she called the hierarchical model of the world. She critiqued hierarchical
systems for being rooted in a reward-and-punishment framework, which often compelled individuals to conform
to the expectations of a dominant few. These environments, she argued, perpetuated the use of survival coping
stances.
Satir proposed that people are inherently good and capable of growth when nurtured in an egalitarian
environment where they feel seen, valued, and supported. Her approach shifted the focus to identifying and
leveraging the strengths and resources of individuals and families (Satir & Baldwin, 1983). This stage laid the
foundation for the Satir Model as a strength-based, positive psychology framework, emphasising personal
growth, empowerment, and the intrinsic potential of individuals. Its long-lasting impact continues to shape the
Satir Model today (Banmen & Maki-Banmen, 2014).
Change Therapy and the Iceberg Metaphor
When Virginia Satir realised that a traumatic childhood required more, she developed Change Therapy. She
placed emphasis on the individual intrapsychic process and also aimed to bring about changes in interpersonal
interactions among family members (Banmen & Maki-Banmen, 2014). In this context, we employ the iceberg
metaphor to generate an infinite array of process questions, assisting individuals in comprehending their inner
worlds. The iceberg metaphor (see Figure 1) can be used to explore what is happening in an individual or between
people as they communicate. What is visible from one person to another, like behaviour, is above the waterline.
The waterline conceals the entire internal world, including feelings, thoughts, expectations, yearnings, and body
sensations. Another person understands the layers beneath the surface by communicating congruently.
Frequently, survival stances hover subconsciously at the waterline, acting as gatekeepers to the vulnerable
information inside and thus preventing authentic connection (Satir et al., 1991).
Figure 1: The Satir Personal Iceberg Metaphor. The text has been adapted from Averbeck, A. (2023). Marriage
and Family Therapy: A Practice-Orientated Approach. Springer Publishing Company, Chapter 8: The Satir
Model. (pp 163-185)
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https://books.google.com.my/book?id=WuXPEAAAQBAJ
Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST)
Lastly, Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST), where the Satir Institute of the Pacific is responsible
for the name change (Averbeck, 2023), believes the new name gives a more expansive and descriptive view of
the therapeutic process. The Satir Model posits that healing occurs when the client simultaneously roots their
energy and becomes consciously aware of the impact of their old beliefs, feelings, somatic sensations,
expectations, or yearnings (Banmen & Maki-Banmen, 2014). The STST therapist then assumes the role of a
guide, assisting the client in discovering their new beliefs or discoveries.
Erker (2017) and Okur (2020) pointed out that the Satir Model is foundational, humanistic, systemic, experiential
and psychospiritual. Virginia Satir believed that people naturally grow in a positive direction when they release
blockages like trauma or outgrown beliefs, making it a humanistic model. It is systemic because Virginia Satir
never viewed a problem as linear or as a personal fault; instead, she saw people's inner worlds and their families
as a complex web of interconnected elements that collectively contribute to the symptoms they experience. The
model is experiential because the therapeutic work focuses on keeping the client present rather than in the past
or the future. Sessions take place in the present moment, as only in the present can change occur (Erker, 2017).
The past impacts the present, which helps the client determine what fits and what doesn’t, what to keep, and
what to let go of (Banmen & Maki-Banmen, 2014). Lastly, the model is psycho-spiritual because the main
mechanism of change happens when the client accesses their spiritual core and guides them through the
transformation to gain higher self-esteem and behavioural change (Okur, 2020).
The Satir Model and Empathy Development
The therapeutic framework initially caters to family therapy. Still, its principles have broad applications, for
example, youth suicide intervention (Lum et al., 2002), the healthy identity in the LGBTQ community (Carlock,
2008), enhancing personal growth in social workers (Vivian Lou, 2009), teenagers’ psychology (Zhang et al.,
2022), rehabilitation training in patients (Zhao et al., 2022), and family carers (Wen et al., 2022). At its core, the
Satir Model is concerned with improving self-awareness, communication, and emotional congruence, where
these elements are crucial for fostering empathy, especially in the context of nurse-patient relationships.
The core principles of the Satir Model related to empathy development include:
Congruence: Align internal experiences (thoughts, feelings, emotions) and external expressions (words,
behaviours).
Self-awareness: The ability to recognise and understand one’s emotions, motivations and reactions.
Self-esteem: Self-esteem in communication.
Emotion congruence: Where feelings, thoughts and behaviours are consistent and expressed openly
Congruent communication is essential for nurses to create authentic and empathetic interactions with patients,
expressing empathy through both verbal and non-verbal cues that are aligned and genuine. Self-awareness allows
nurses to be mindful of their emotional state while fully attending to the patient’s needs. By being aware of their
feelings, nurses can prevent personal stress or bias from negatively affecting the care they provide, allowing
them to respond to patients with greater empathy. A nurse with healthy self-esteem can confidently engage with
patients without feeling threatened or defensive in challenging situations. This emotional stability enables the
nurse to be more open and empathetic, as they are secure in their self-worth and better able to focus on the
patient’s needs rather than their insecurities. Emotional congruence enables nurses to relate to patients more
deeply by expressing genuine concern, understanding and compassion. When nurses are emotionally congruent,
they are better able to “tune in” to the emotional states of patients, which is critical for developing empathy.
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Empathy Development in Nursing Communication
Empathy—the capacity to understand and share patients’ emotional experiences—is a core competency for
compassionate, patient-centred care. For example, Squier (1990) highlighted that empathy helps nurses perceive
patients’ experiences from their perspective, fostering trust, deeper connections, and improved treatment
outcomes.
Beyond simply imagining oneself in another’s position, empathy involves the active process of comprehending
and relating to the individual's feelings and perspectives (Yang et al., 2018), allowing the nurse to respond with
genuine understanding and sensitivity. Studies consistently demonstrate the positive impact of empathetic
communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Studies have linked empathetic communication
to enhanced patient satisfaction, improved adherence to treatment regimens, and overall better health outcomes
(Squier, 1990; Yang et al., 2018). It aligns with a broader definition of empathy in healthcare (Nembhard et al.,
2022), highlighting understanding, feeling and responding to a patient’s emotions.
Empirical Evidence on Empathy Development in Nursing
Example studies highlight the gap in empathy training needed in nursing education. A scoping review highlighted
that empathy-based experiential learning in nursing curricula effectively promotes self-awareness and emotional
intelligence among students (Peisachovich et al., 2024). Sixteen out of eighteen studies reviewed confirmed the
positive impact of education interventions on empathy development, suggesting a strong endorsement for their
implementation in nursing education. Salazar et al. (2023) comment that empathy is a necessary healthcare skill
competency in associates, improves patient outcomes, enhances job satisfaction, and increases retention and
resilience across healthcare professions. Yu et al. (2022), a qualitative study, identified personal and external
factors affecting empathy, suggesting that while compassion is stable, it can fluctuate based on situational
stressors and work environments. Therefore, maintaining the empathy level requires training. Esterhuizen (2020),
a lecturer from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, initiated a discussion about the concept of compassion
in empathy training and the reliability of empathy training as a skill to the learner. The requirements for nurses'
professional empathy are outlined in the Code of Practice, which should be considered an important aspect of
empathy training. Knowledge stimulation and sharing training programs on empathy skills significantly
improved nurses’ communication and professional identities (Ding et al., 2020). The study by Kahrimah et al.
(2016) also recommended the inclusion of communication and empathic skills in in-service nursing training
programmes.
Author(s)
Title
Key Findings
Relevance to Study
Peisachovich
et al. (2024)
Evaluating the
Effectiveness of
Empathy-Based
Education in
Undergraduate
Nursing: A Scoping
Review.
Review the effectiveness of
clinical empathy training for
health professionals and
synthesise evidence using the
PICOT framework and
PRISMA guidelines.
The paper focuses on synthesising
evidence regarding clinical
empathy skills among health
professionals. It examines the
effectiveness of fostering empathy
development among nursing
professionals.
Salazar et al.
(2023)
Our Patients Need
Empathy Training
across Healthcare
Professionals.
Vulnerable populations
receive less empathic care,
leading to disparities in
health outcomes. There is a
need for effective empathy
training across healthcare
professions.
The paper focuses on the need for
empathy training across
healthcare professionals without
specific models or methodologies.
A model is needed to fill the gap.
Yu et al.
(2022)
The Development of
Empathy in the
The study explores factors
contributing to the
development of empathy, like
Factors affecting empathy can be
categorised, and empathy can
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Healthcare Setting: A
Qualitative Approach.
personal factors and external
factors such as work
environment and life
experiences.
fluctuate based on circumstances
faced by healthcare professionals.
Esterhuizen
(2020)
Commentary: The
Effectiveness of
Empathy Training on
the Skills of Nurses
Working in Intensive
Care Units.
The study suggests empathy
training may have a positive
influence on the skills of
nurses.
The paper emphasises the need
for a deeper understanding of how
empathy can be cultivated in
healthcare professionals to
improve patient care outcomes.
Ding et al.
(2020)
Effectiveness of
Empathy Clinical
Education for
Children’s Nursing
Students: A Quasi-
Experiment Study.
The study found that clinical
empathy education
significantly improved the
empathy levels of children’s
nursing students.
The study's recommendations for
incorporating empathy training
into nursing programmes could
have lasting benefits for students
and patients.
Kahriman et
al. (2016)
The Effect of Empathy
Training on the
Empathic Skills of
Nurses.
Empathy training enhances
nurses’ communication skills
and professional satisfaction.
Nurses’ communication skills and
empathic skills for better patient
understanding are enhanced by
empathy training.
Note: Table of articles on empathy development in nursing.
Empirical Evidence on The Satir Model in Nursing
The Satir Model, also known as the Iceberg Model, is a therapeutic approach developed by Virginia Satir, an
American author, clinical social worker, and psychotherapist. It has been effectively used in communication to
enhance interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity. The model emphasises congruent communication, self-
awareness and emotional expression, which is crucial for nursing professionals. A study involving nursing
students revealed significant improvements in communication styles post-Satir education, highlighting themes
such as empathy, emotional expression, and self-reflection (Lim & Park, 2013). Students reported a shift from
blame to shared responsibility, enhancing their relationship with patients and peers. The Satir Model’s
application in diverse cultural contexts, such as Hong Kong, underscores the need for cultural sensitivity. We
can adapt the model's principles to align with hierarchical collectivist values while promoting individual
expression (Cheung & Chan, 2002). This adaptability ensures that nursing communication remains effective
across different cultural settings. In the current search, there is not enough research on the Satir Model in nursing
care, but studies are available in other areas, such as youth suicide intervention (Lum, Smith, & Ferris, 2002)
(Banmen, 2008), personal growth and reflection (Sayles, 2002) (Stuart, 2010), counselling competency (Jafari,
2017), psychoeducational programs on autism spectrum disorder (Srikosai et al., 2019), mental health (Lau et
al., 2018), and alcohol relapse prevention programs (Srikosai et al., 2014).
Author(s)
Key Findings
Relevance to Study
Lim &
Park
(2012)
Identified five themes of
communication changes,
and self-reflection
enhances nursing students’
communication
experiences.
Communication and
relationship changes were
observed post-Satir education,
and self-reflection enhances
communication experiences.
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Cheung &
Chan
(2002)
The study focuses on
cultural sensitivity in
applying the model.
Stud We must be aware of and
sensitive to Malaysia's
multicultural society.
Banmen
(2008)
The study focuses on
suicide intervention and
treatment.
The Satir's model addresses
the mental and emotional at a
deep level—the level of
unmet yearnings—to provide
a sense of empathy.
Stuart
(2010)
The author provides a
deeper exploration of the
Satir concept and
comparison of the model
and explores the
implications of the model.
The paper provides a deeper
understanding and view from
different points to understand
the Satir Model.
Jafari
(2017)
The study focuses on using
the Satir Model in couple
counselling.
The study results provide
evidence that the Satir Model
is providing positive results in
coping strategies.
Srikosai et
al. (2019)
The The study focuses on
the negative emotions that
parents experience in
relation to their ASD
child's self-care, social
skills deficit, and self-
regulation difficulties.
The Satir model-based
psychoeducation program
improved the coping level of
parents of children with ASD.
This achievement is an
encouragement to explore the
model in other areas.
Note: Table of articles reviewing the contribution of the Satir Model.
Application of the Satir Model in Developing Empathy Nursing Communication
The Satir Model focuses on improving communication and building emotional connections to enhance empathy
in nursing. The model’s application fosters a more profound understanding of patients’ experiences, ultimately
improving care quality, and the model can be integrated into nursing care education via a nonviolent
communication program to improve nursing students’ empathic abilities, self-esteem, and communication
competency (Sung & Kweon, 2022). To create a complete empathy education model that highlights the need to
learn empathy skills, Burkhartzmeyer et al. (2021) did a study to practise these skills in real clinical settings,
using a proven empathic communication framework for nurses and health staff to improve patient experiences
at a large medical organisation in the Midwest, aiming to bridge the gap between training and patient experience
data to support ongoing learning and practical use of these skills. Zhu et al. (2021) used the Delphi technique in
a study to develop an empathy education model for undergraduate nursing students due to the lack of formal
empathy courses, and Lu et al. (2018) tried to use a creative board game for empathy-related curriculum in
nursing education. We recommend adopting the empathy education model into the nursing programme to ensure
students receive comprehensive education in empathy.
Key recommendations for integrating the Satir Model into nursing are:
Self-awareness and congruence: encourage nurses to practise regular self-reflection and mindfulness exercises
to help nurses manage their own emotions, ensuring they approach patients with authenticity and empathy.
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Empathic communication to pay attention to patients’ verbal and non-verbal language and emotions,
acknowledging patients’ experiences without judgement.
Focus on individual strengths to highlight positive coping mechanisms or past successes when discussing
treatment or challenges.
Integrate the iceberg metaphor with using open-ended questions to uncover underlying concerns, such as fears
or values influencing behaviour.
Foster a safe environment by using a warm, non-threatening tone, maintaining eye contact and respecting
patients’ cultural and individual differences.
Encourage collaboration and growth in co-creating care plans by involving patients in decision-making.
Actionable Steps to Integrate the Satir Model
Congruence, self-awareness, emotional connection, and the Iceberg Metaphor are Satir Model priorities. Try to
apply these principles to real nursing situations for further explanation.
First, develop self-awareness and alignment. Daily mindfulness and thoughtful debriefs are advised. Nurses
record responses to prompts such “Did I communicate authentically?” after patient interactions. Did my words
match my feelings? The Iceberg Metaphor Worksheet can help nurses map observable actions (e.g., patient
hostility) and hidden emotions (e.g., fear of prognosis) to uncover underlying reasons and make positive changes.
Second, in incongruent communication, nurses use direct, sympathetic language like “I’ll try to hurry!” to
substitute a survival position. Often heard during busy hours. This is “placating”; try “I need 15 minutes to finish
this task, but I’ll prioritise your request next. Is that okay?” to a patient who requests help. Role-playing
workshops to practise handling typical situations like unwelcome news can help nurses increase efficiency.
Third, use the Iceberg Metaphor to uncover emotions. Open-ended questioning help nurses find hidden issues.
Ask a resistive patient, “What worries you most about this treatment?” How can we address such issues together?
What nurses can learn to ask “What else?” three times to probe patients’ concerns (e.g., What else disturbs you
about the diagnosis?)
Fourth, strength-based treatment promotes teamwork. For example, nurses may tell a diabetic patient, “You’ve
managed your diet well this week – let’s build on that success for insulin adherence.” Use SMART goals
(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to assist patients set goals.
Fifth, use non-verbal congruence (eye contact, calm tone) and cultural humility to create an emotionally safe
space. One nurse told a silent bereaved family, “Take your time. I’m available for conversation.” Clinics and
wards can display posters advising workers to “Pause, Breathe, Respond” to encourage create emotional safe
space.
Implications for nursing practice
The Satir model for developing empathy communication has broad implications for nursing practice, offering
benefits and considerations across three key stakeholder groups: patients, nurses, and the healthcare system.
Integrating the Satir model in nursing is multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive approach encompassing
education, practical application, and structural support to maximise its positive impact.
For Patients
The Satir Model for developing empathy Communication helps improve emotional well-being, in which
empathy helps patients feel understood, valued, and supported, reducing anxiety and emotional distress and
promoting a sense of safety, especially during vulnerable moments such as diagnosis or treatment. Patients who
trust their nurses are more likely to share concerns openly, enabling accurate diagnosis and tailored care.
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Empowerment by recognising individual strengths fosters self-efficacy and encourages patients to actively
participate in their care. Holistic healing, with the iceberg metaphor addressing the underlying beliefs, feelings,
and unmet needs, can lead to a deeper understanding of the patient and support physical and emotional recovery.
The patient feels heard, reducing anxiety (e.g., a cancer patient shares fears about chemotherapy after congruent
communication). This is an empowerment – strengths-based care increases self-efficacy in patients being able
to set achievable goals for rehab.
For Nurses
The Satir Model improves communication skills where nurses foster active listening and non-judgemental
interactions; it helps carers navigate challenging conversations, such as delivering bad news or managing non-
compliance. Authentic connections with patients bring fulfilment and reduce burnout associated with repetitive
tasks or emotional strain, which can increase nurses’ job satisfaction. Promote professional growth with self-
reflection and emotional intelligence, enhancing personal and professional resilience. And nurses practicing
congruence are better equipped to handle their emotions, which reduces compassion fatigue and improves mental
health care strategies for stress management. Self-awareness practices help nurses to manage stress (e.g.,
debriefing after a traumatic code blue). And mastery of the Iceberg Metaphor as skill development in improves
conflict resolution (de-escalating a frustrated family member).
For Healthcare Systems
The benefit of the Satir Model is that it improves patient outcomes by enhancing communication, leading to
better adherence to treatment plans, fewer misunderstandings, and improved recovery rates. Empathic care
minimises miscommunication and reduces patient complaints and conflicts; it also has the potential to reduce
legal issues. Clear communication prevents errors and saves time by reducing repeated explanations and
misunderstandings, which will increase the efficiency of healthcare. Fostering a patient-centred culture
encourages a shift towards holistic, patient-focused care, which is central to modern healthcare. With the positive
impact of addressing emotional and professional needs, the model can improve nurse retention rates and reduce
costs associated with high turnover. The Satir Model's acceptance is a challenge, as some people may resist open
communication due to cultural or personal barriers. Nurses may need training to enhance their empathy skills,
particularly in high-stress environments; the implementation of the Satir Model in the healthcare system
necessitates investment in education, time for reflective practices and supportive leadership. By adopting the
Satir Model, healthcare stakeholders can collaboratively foster an environment where empathy and effective
communication enhance both individual experiences and systemic outcomes. Cost savings in fewer
miscommunications reduce readmissions (e.g., clearer discharge instructions improve adherence). And cultural
competency in adapting the model to a diverse populations (e.g., respecting silence in collectivist cultures)
enhances equity.
Practical Application in Nursing Education
Empathy Training Workshops
Incorporating the Satir Model into nursing education can enhance empathy development through interactive
workshops. For example, a workshop might include role-playing exercises where nursing students practise
responding to patients’ emotional needs using congruent communication. Feedback from peers and instructors
helps them refine their skills in time.
Reflective Practices
Nursing students can also engage in reflective journaling to explore their emotional triggers and biases. For
instance, after a challenging patient encounter, a student might write about how the situation affected them
emotionally and how they could approach it differently using self-awareness and empathy.
Simulation Scenarios
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Stimulated patient interactions can help students apply the Satir Model in controlled environments. In one
scenario, a patient exhibits anger due to a long wait time. The student tasked with acknowledging the patient’s
frustration (“I understand how frustrating delays can be”) while exploring underlying concerns with open-ended
questions. This exercise builds confidence in handling real-world situations.
Cultural Adaptation Models to tailor Satir principles to diverse populations. Using a case study on patients from
a culture that values familial decision-making in stimulation sessions for nursing students to explore “How might
you involve the family while respecting the patient’s autonomy using the Satir Model?” from the workshops,
role-playing nursing students will gain insight and having opportunity to practice before encounter the real-
situation with patient.
CONCLUSION
The Satir Model provides a comprehensive framework for developing empathy in nursing communication. By
focusing on congruence, self-awareness, and the ability to connect with patients on a deeper emotional level,
nurses can enhance their therapeutic relationships and contribute to better outcomes. Integrating this model into
nursing education and practice offers a pathway to foster compassionate, patient-centred care in today’s complex
healthcare environment. Future research should explore the long-term impact of empathy training using the Satir
Model across diverse healthcare settings.
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