Nursevillage.com - Career Resources : Compassion Fatigue: It's all the rage, so why are nurses missing out?

Since its discovery and emergence of literature on “Compassion Fatigue” in 1995, very little has been discussed about nursing as it relates to this phenomenon. Commonly diagnosed among physicians and social workers, compassion fatigue is a form of burnout that manifests itself as physical, mental and emotional exhaustion as a result of caring for patients who are in pain, suffering or traumatized.

In this ever-increasingly fast paced industry, nurses often find themselves among an organizational structure that does not support their role of providing care within healthcare. Too often nurses are overlooked as focus turns to doctors’ busy schedules when, in fact, it is the nurse who spends most of her day caring for those who may be considered “stress factors”.

The trouble is data on Compassion Fatigue is difficult to come by, but if you think you might be suffering from giving until you have nothing left to give you could have compassion fatigue. Answer yes or no to the following statements to find out if you might have this particular affliction.

Personal concerns often intrude on my professional role.
My colleagues seem to lack understanding.
I find even small changes enormously draining.
I can’t seem to recover quickly after association with trauma.
Association with trauma affects me very deeply.
My patient’s stress affects me deeply.
I have lost my sense of hopefulness.
I feel vulnerable all the time.
I feel overwhelmed by unfinished personal business.

If you answered yes to four or more questions you are most likely suffering from Compassion Fatigue. Even though there is a considerable lack of information concerning Compassion Fatigue, there are some helpful hints you can implement into your daily life that will help diminish the feelings you may be experiencing. Try the following:

1) Spend plenty of quiet time alone. Meditation is a great way to ground yourself and gather your thoughts. Reconnecting with your thoughts and feelings will help you achieve inner balance.
2) Recharge – daily. Try eating healthier or even concentrating on the simple act of eating rather than the hundreds of tasks that must be finished. Multi-tasking is engraved in our lives but it is sometimes necessary to take a break and concentrate on only one thing at a time. Try a regular exercise routine to achieve your outer balance.
3) Hold one focused, meaningful conversation each day. Time with family and friends can feed your soul. Don’t let it be the first thing you let go when time is hard to come by.

There are times when your fatigue will set in strong. When the time comes, here is a what NOT to do:

1) Don’t make big decisions. Don’t quit your job, get a divorce or spend excessive amounts of money. These actions may make you feel good at the time but this is only a temporary fix that you may end up regretting in the end.
2) Don’t blame others. Blaming administration, staff or colleagues will only exhaust you further. Instead, focus on what you can control – you.
3) Don’t waste your energy complaining. Complaining can only make you feel worse about the situation at hand. Focus your energies on more constructive outlets, like exercise or friends and family. If you still need to talk, find a therapist or group that can offer you solutions to the problem.
4) Don’t try a quick fix. Self-medicating and engaging in addictive behaviors will only complicate an already overburdened life.