For any non-medical friends following this blog, it may come as a surprise that the words compassion and fatigue combined are a reality for many caregivers. One pictures the bravery, kindness, and competence of a firefighter, nurse, or other caregiver-strong individuals who can handle any and every situation. The reality sometimes could not be farther from the truth.
Compassion fatigue is defined as the “loss of the ability to nurture.” It is considered a “cost of caring.” While the symptoms are similar to those of burnout, the cause and onset are different. Burn out is a result of job related dissatisfaction while compassion fatigue is more directly patient related. Burn out occurs gradually over time while compassion fatigue can be more acute in its onset. Could you be experiencing compassion fatigue?
Signs & Symptoms
Here are just a few:
- Exhaustion
- Insomnia
- Anger
- Depression
- Apathy
- Feeling of overwhelm
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Decreased Job Satisfaction
- Pointing Blame
The Affected
Compassion fatigue can affect any professional caregiver. Any healthcare worker is at risk as well as police, social workers and therapists. Nurses, especially acute and intensive care, are at high risk. Any nurse working in close proximity to patients that are suffering are at risk. The risk to the individual is serious if untreated and can include anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to name a few.
Prevention & Intervention
It is essential for the at risk population to balance work life with personal life. The innate caregiver often spends more time caring for others than self which can quickly lead to an imbalance. Self care is essential. A healthy diet, exercise, and regular non work related activities can help maintain a balance.
In addition, it is important to be offered and attend debriefing sessions following a traumatic event in the workplace. Often, the individuals do not even recognize the symptoms themselves. As such, it is important to have regular on job education with regard to the risks and prevention of compassion fatigue. Also, education in coping with grief and trauma should be implemented in high risk areas.
Nurses often play the role of both first and continued responder in the workplace which puts the individual at high risk for compassion fatigue. It is important to be aware of the risks, signs, and interventions to ensure a healthy balance in the workplace. Look out for one another, be kind to one another, help one another. If you know someone that you suspect may be suffering, talk to them. Start the conversation. No more suffering silently. Offer support, find help. The medical community needs to better evolve to not only support our patients and protect our patients fully, but support and protect each other as well ❤
Happy spring from northern Sweden! For many of us here, spring has shown itself through some of the most beautiful sun filled days. While the cold remains and the forecast predicts snow, with help of lighter days and spring blooms we can begin to feel winter behind us.
Happy New Year, nurse friends!! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season ❤ 2018 has already presented itself with some huge changes. Mighty Nurse, the online nursing community that I have been writing for over the past couple years, has been absorbed by a much bigger company and as such will no longer be offering an online platform for nurses, nursing students, and other healthcare professionals.
Christmas is a time when even the stingiest can feel a sense of compassion and good will. As nurses, the core of our work stems from the word compassion. It is our fuel. For most, our compassion meters run high during the season. However, sometimes we can run low and find ourselves stricken with compassion fatigue. We give our undivided time to our patients as well as family and friends during this season which can be tiring in the end. So how do we spread compassion this season and remain balanced? It’s simple. Follow these few steps. 
With the holidays fast approaching, it is hard not to feel a sense of magic in the air. The lights, the music, and the food give a sense of warmth this time of year. Unfortunately, anyone that works at the bedside full time has an obligatory holiday shift each year. While many become acclimated to this reality, there are those that could use a little cheering up. The following are just a few tips for making it through your holiday shift this year..
My previous posts have been advice and encouragement for you, the student. My hope was to inspire you to stay strong through school and see the reward that becoming a nurse can offer. You have many years of stability, security, and integrity ahead of you. The world is your oyster. You have the option to stay in your home town and see your career to retirement or you can travel the world one patient at a time. While we may meet again in future posts, I find no better way to sum up this series of posts with one final and most critical piece of advice. This time, it is more for the sake of your patients. Here goes. Please wash your hands….
Those of us that have made it through nursing school can empathize with how tough it is getting through. Each semester is a new challenge with the demands becoming higher and higher. Imagine adding a new language and culture to this challenge….
Neonurse 