Introduction
Compassion fatigue is a physical and psychological depletion brought on by repeated exposure to emotionally taxing circumstances. Nurses are increasingly concerned about it since they frequently encounter emotionally exhausting and stressful events regularly. On the other hand, burnout is distinguished from compassion fatigue by apathy and a sense of dissociation from one’s work. Those working in the medical sector can benefit greatly from learning about compassion fatigue among nurses, including its definition, risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatments.
Compassion Fatigue vs. Burnout
Compassion fatigue, as we have already established, is characterized by emotions of powerlessness, melancholy, and a lack of hope. On the other hand, ambivalence and a perception of detachment from one’s nursing job are traits of burnout (Mattioli et al., 2018). Long-term stress causes it, which is why cynicism and a lack of success are its hallmarks. Understanding this difference can help nurses easily cope with these effects.
Risk Factors
Several factors, such as exposure to traumatic situations, a lack of support from coworkers and supervisors, and a lack of self-care, put nurses at risk for developing compassion fatigue. Additionally, compassion fatigue is more likely to affect nurses who work in high-stress settings like emergency rooms, intensive care units, or neonatal care units as they are exposed to trauma which results from the environments having traumatic events happening all around them (Saleh et al., 2019). Long-shift nurses frequently have a high patient load, leading to high workloads and high-stress conditions, which increases the likelihood of developing compassion fatigue. Because they take their patients’ pain more personally, nurses who are emotionally invested in their patients are more prone to develop compassion fatigue. Nurses who have experienced personal trauma may be more sensitive to the suffering of others, which increases their risk of developing compassion fatigue. Fully understanding how to navigate these risk areas would help mitigate the effects brought about by fatigue.
Prevention and How to Help Nurses
Nursing professionals must develop self-care skills to avoid developing compassion fatigue. This includes engaging in self-care activities like exercise, meditation, and talking to someone about one’s thoughts (Mattioli et al., 2018). Nurses could ask their coworkers, managers, and mental health specialists for support (Saleh et al., 2019). Additionally, nurses should be urged to take a break and care for themselves when they feel overworked (Mattioli et al., 2018). Giving nurses continual information and training on self-care and coping mechanisms will help them lessen burnout and compassion fatigue.
Conclusion
Compassion fatigue is a developing problem among nurses, and they must understand how to look after their physical and emotional needs and ask for help from coworkers, managers, and mental health specialists. It is critical to recognize that it is a major problem that can negatively affect nurses’ health and wellness. Healthcare facilities must address this problem by giving nurses the tools and support they need to handle the emotional demands of their work, and with this, employers can help to minimize compassion fatigue. Nurses can continue to provide excellent care to their patients without compromising their well-being by being aware of compassion fatigue and making efforts to prevent it.
References
Mattioli, D., Walters, L., & Cannon, E. J. (2018). Focusing on the caregiver: Compassion fatigue awareness and understanding. Medsurg nursing, 27(5), 323-328.
Saleh, Z. N., Loghmani, L., Rasouli, M., Nasiri, M., & Borhani, F. (2019). Moral distress and compassion fatigue in nurses of neonatal intensive care unit. Electron J Gen Med, 16(2), 4.
