Combating Compassion Fatigue

Combating Compassion Fatigue

Ngozi Ahatanke

Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V

December 4, 2014

Combating Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is not only about feeling overwhelmed from the stresses of a job but also feeling indifferent when helping those who are sick or suffering on a constant basis (Gilmore, 2012). Nursing is a profession prone to such a phenomenon. Those who are in the nursing community know how nursing emphasizes love, compassion and care for the patient. However, there comes a point where caring for patients can become personal and affect not only a nurse’s physical and psychological state but one’s spiritual state as well. The physical demands of caring for a patient like pain or discomfort can also negatively affect the caregiver (Bush, 2009). Before compassion fatigue can get to a severe state, caregivers must make sure they check and recognize the signs in order to prevent a detriment to the caregiver’s health. The very reasons why nurses are drawn to caring such as supporting and being compassionate are the same causes for compassion fatigue ^[a](Gilmore, 2012, p. 20).

Warning Signs of Compassion Fatigue

The signs of compassion fatigue are so discrete that one may dismiss them as things common to their daily routine. Compassion fatigue’s symptoms include lack of motivation, apathy or tiredness. The warning signs of compassion fatigue can include concepts of the five following areas of emotional, cognitive, behavioral, somatic and spiritual^[b]. As mentioned before the emotional symptoms of compassion fatigue include helplessness, guilt, anger and depression. Secondly, rigidity, apathy, low concentration and disorientation are typical cognitive problems. Thirdly, behavioral issues of compassion fatigue would be poor sleeping habits, moody behavior or being withdrawn socially. Fourth, somatic symptoms of compassion fatigue are aches and pain, impaired immune systems, difficulty staying and falling asleep and headaches. Finally, spiritual symptoms include losing one’s purpose or faith and even questioning the meaning of life. This phenomenon can occur over a period of time, impulsive acts like overeating and compulsive shopping can also be attributed to compassion fatigue (Gilmore 2012). One might start to complain or shift blame to others when at the job or concerning assignments. Also, one can experience backaches or stomach problems due to the stress of compassion fatigue. Thus, this can lead to one being constantly absent from work. Some may avoid dealing with certain patients because they feel like their negativity affects their livelihood.

No one is excused from dealing with compassion fatigue; caregivers of all types are susceptible to acquiring compassion fatigue. This is because all caregivers get emotionally exhausted from all the stress in the workplace^[c]. Some nurses believe that the training and skills one possesses can prevent one from developing compassion fatigue; however, this is not the case.  Sometimes, environments that are low-staffed and prone to high stress situation can cause compassion fatigue. Also, many nurses work twelve hour shifts but by the time they clock out, they could be at work for more than fourteen hours. At some point, anger and/or frustration can develop towards the patient because some may feel like the patient is not doing enough to remedy their own situation (Bush, 2009, p. 25^[d]). Not only do the stressors of nursing cause compassion fatigue but the responses and actions of a nurse to a stressor can also contribute to compassion fatigue. This also brings to question whether a nurse is ready to deal with the requirements that come with the job. Since nurses fail to deal with the stresses of the job in an appropriate fashion, this allows for compassion fatigue to foster. Due to nurses caring for those who are in tremendously suffering, emphasizing or sympathizing is unavoidable and thus leads to compassion fatigue (Sabo, 2011).