Running head: COMPASSION FATIGUE IN NURSING 1

Compassion Fatigue in Nursing

Jordyn Murvihill

Nurs 310-01

Sister Hawkins
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Compassion Fatigue in Nursing

Nursing is not only hard physically but also mentally and spiritually. It requires not only

for you to care for patients but to also care for yourself and to recognize abnormal changes in

your personality and behaviors as well. Compassion fatigue can cause many other issues than

some might think.

Definition

Compassion fatigue occurs when nurses dont feel like they are achieving at their best,

and they are dissatisfied with their outcomes and performances. Fatigue can happen to any nurse

at any time. But the nurses that work with oncology patients and ones that are witnesses of death

more often are the ones that will be affected more than the others. According to Lombardo &

Erye (2011, p.1), Compassion fatigue has been described among cancer-care providers,

emergency room personnel, chaplains, and first responders, among others. This fatigue may

impact nurses in any specialty when, in the process of providing empathic support, they

personally experience the pain of their patients and families. Nurses that take on others shifts

and come in when they are off duty may be more likely to develop compassion fatigue because

they are spending more times with these patients so they are building a stronger relationship with

them. According to Sheppard (2017, p.1) One of the greatest risks for compassion fatigue

comes when nurses forgo their own self-care. Sometimes for these nurses, it is really hard for

them to get going again after something happen to make them have compassion fatigue. Since

nurses can deal with many different situations and people from day to day, it can suddenly

appear at any time. As a nurse, it is important to notice when you are in compassion fatigue

because it can as affect the other patients that are being cared for by that nurse. According to

Howard, Van Dorn, Zule & Wechsberg (2017, p.2), Such negative consequences have been
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described in terms of Compassion Fatigue, which is defined as the practitioners reduced

capacity to be empathic or bear the suffering of clients. Some of the other clients may feel as if

they are being neglected or the nurse is being rude with them. This can cause not only the nurse

some issues but as well as the health care facility as well.

Symptoms

It is important for a nurse to notice when they are fatigued so they can stake a break from

their caregiving so it doesnt cause an effect on their other patients. When it first happens, the

symptoms are more emotional. The nurse may feel like that failed their patients to get better or

they just didnt do the best they could do at their job. Then they may start to experience sleepless

nights and forget to do things at work or at home like they were supposed to. This then can lead

into becoming physical ill. According to Sheppard (2017, p.1), Without realizing why, they may

start to call in sick more frequently. Nurses may also experience irritability and depression.

These ones are the most common symptoms that can be found in nurses with compassion fatigue.

With irritability, this means the little things can bother the nurse. They may get upset with

coworkers and patients because of it and it can destroy other relationships. While certain things

may not have bothered you when you were running on a full emotional tank, now even small

annoyances may trigger an emotional reaction. (5 signs of compassion fatigue in nurses, n.d).

With this, it does not only affect the work of nurses but it can also affect the lifestyle at home. It

is hard for nurses to separate work life from personal life. According to Mathieu (2007, p.1),

Helpers are not immune to pain in their own lives and in fact some studies show that they are

more vulnerable to life changes such as divorce and difficulties such as addictions than people

who do less stressful work. Nursing can cause lots of stress but it is the successful ones who

know how to cope with the stress and not let it affect their personal lives.
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Strategies

For a nurse to help overcome compassion fatigue, there are several different strategies to

help them. The first step is to start to become aware of how you feel physically and emotionally.

Nurses can start to realize when their emotions start to become negative towards coworkers and

patients. When this happens, it is important to talk to someone about it so that you can overcome

and not let the symptoms to progress. According to Mathieu (2007, p.1), First, by openly

discussing and recognizing compassion fatigue in the workplace, helpers can normalize this

problem for one another. Another strategy would be to establish healthy boundaries. A nurse

should not get herself into situations where they feel uncomfortable or in some danger.

According to Sheppard (2017, p.1), Examples might include answering a question you feel

uncomfortable with, sharing personal information youd prefer to keep private, doing a favor for

someone not because you want to but because you feel you have to, having someone hug or

touch you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, and tolerating a rude or pushy person. Also,

self-care is very important for preventing compassion fatigue. It is important to take time for

themselves by taking breaks and doing activities the nurse enjoys, giving them a break from

work life. You also should take time off when possible to give yourself a physical, mental and

emotional break from the stressors of your job. (5 signs of compassion fatigue in nurses, n.d).

This gives them a break to not overdue their capabilities to push them over the edge.
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References

5 signs of compassion fatigue in nurses. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2017, from

http://msnonline.arizona.edu/resources/articles/5-signs-of-compassion-fatigue-in-nurses

Howard, B. N., Van Dorn, R., Myers, B. J., Zule, W. A., Browne, F. A., Carney, T., &

Wechsberg, W. M. (2017). How are compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion

satisfaction affected by quality of working life? Findings from a survey of mental health

staff in Italy. BMC Health Services Research, 171-11. doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2669-21

Lombardo, B., & Eyre, C. (2011, January 31). Compassion fatigue: a nurse's primer. Retrieved

November 26, 2017, from

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/

OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-16-2011/No1-Jan-2011/Compassion-Fatigue-A-Nurses-

Primer.html

Mathieu, F. (2007). Running on empty: compassion fatigue in health professionals. Rehab &

Community Care Medicine, 1-6. Retrieved from

http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/RunningOnEmpty.pdf

Sheppard, K. (2017, June 09). Compassion fatigue: are you at risk? Retrieved November 26,

2017, from https://www.americannursetoday.com/compassion-fatigue/