Exam Pass Notes

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Key Takeaways

• Self-compassion is treating yourself with fairness and kindness when things go wrong.
• It does not mean making excuses, lowering standards or avoiding responsibility.
• The three elements are self-kindness, mindfulness and recognising common humanity.
• Harsh self-talk increases stress, shame and rumination after difficult shifts.
• Compassionate reframing helps learning, recovery and safer practice.

Practical Techniques

• Ask: "What would I say to a respected colleague?"
• Label feelings without judgement: "guilt is here" or "this is sadness".
• Remember common humanity - care work includes struggle and imperfection.
• Replace global self-criticism with a specific, balanced learning statement.
• Use supervision, debriefing and workplace support when needed.

Self-Care Plan Areas

• Physical: rest, food, hydration, movement and pain management.
• Emotional: debriefing, grief support, reflection and kinder self-talk.
• Professional: accurate documentation, targeted training, supervision and escalation.
• Boundaries: notice and address unsustainable overtime, persistent worry or excessive responsibility.