{"id":2007,"date":"2022-02-17T16:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T16:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wimetest.com\/blog\/?p=2007"},"modified":"2022-04-28T14:49:39","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T21:49:39","slug":"compassion-fatigue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildirismedicaleducation.com\/blog\/compassion-fatigue","title":{"rendered":"Compassion Fatigue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Sheryl Ness, MA, BSN, ADN, RN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As a nurse, you have likely experienced compassion fatigue. When you see the term, you know exactly what this is. However, the concept of compassion fatigue is often difficult to understand or know exactly how to manage. After all, \u201ccompassion\u201d is what nurses do every day. We care for people who are often dealing with a difficult health crisis, pain, suffering, and even death. However, it\u2019s important to understand the impact compassion fatigue can have over time, be aware of red flags that might indicate a problem, and learn healthy ways to manage the effects of compassion fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Compassion Fatigue Defined<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Helping<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Compassion is often defined as having empathy and a sense of awareness of another\u2019s feelings. This is a powerful emotion that may manifest in many different ways for each person. Fatigue is more complicated to define. It is a sense of being exhausted and utterly tired, with a focus on physical symptoms rather than emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these two concepts combined, compassion fatigue represents a profound sense of emotional and physical exhaustion as a result of exposure to another person\u2019s trauma or suffering. The result of prolonged exposure to this type of emotional and physical stress can lead to burnout and even more serious consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Connection with Stress and Burnout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Prolonged compassion fatigue often leads to additional concerns such as withdrawal, depression, and stress-related job burnout. (This is described in more detail in a new nursing CEU course from Wild Iris Medical Education titled Work-Related Stress: Preventing Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Vicarious Trauma.<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many interesting points to consider related to compassion fatigue, particularly the elements that may place nurses at risk for this common job-related hazard. Nurses innately care for others, and that involves experiencing emotions. That\u2019s what true caring is. However, it\u2019s crucial to have a sense of balance between one\u2019s caring, empathy, and emotions and the proper self-regulation needed to protect oneself from being overcome by the stress of a patient\u2019s suffering and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Risk Factors and Red Flags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first steps to balancing the emotions of empathy and caring with healthy behaviors is to develop insight into what may place you at risk for compassion fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk factors<\/strong> may be different for each person. However, here are a few to be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n