Compassion fatigue and burnout have a synergistic relationship (Gentry, et al, 2002). Burnout originally described by Freudenberger (1975) occurs when a person becomes both physically and mentally exhausted due to continually experiencing high demand and stressful situations. The symptoms and presentation of this condition varies from person to person (Freudenberger, 1975). Burnout is related to the work environment, with chronic occupational stress resulting in diminished job satisfaction. Burnout usually involve general work stress (long hours, high caseloads) but which however can result in exhaustion and decreased sense of accomplishment at work (Hyden, et al, 2015) Hence, burnout plays a major role in the development of and can directly contribute to a person’s overall compassion
1. Introduction Compassion fatigue experienced by doctors and nurse, the term is used to describe their emotionless and apathy to the patients. However, today, compassion fatigue appears everywhere, not only happens with healthy professionals but also with all the caregivers, and even to us and to any person. Compassion fatigue becomes more common in media. In fact, compassion fatigue has been called a form of burnout to describe ‘journalists’ secondary trauma in being routinely exposed to atrocities.
In the healthcare industry, nurses are the workers that do a lot to ensure quality patient care, and therefore, physicians, administrative employees, and patients expect much from them. Due to a shortage of nurses in the industry, and their dedication to ensure quality of care, they work long hours. Long working hours combined with a shortage of nurses lead to burnout, which affects quality of patient care. As a result, this has a direct negative impact on patient safety. Thus, for every increase in the demand for nursing services, the quality of patient care declines with increased patient interaction.
Inadequate staffing, setting boundaries, long work hours, higher acuity patients, and the physical demand can take a toll as well. Finding ways to relax once you get home and leave all the issues you had at work at work since nursing is a stressful job. You may want to try some type of stress relieving activities such as yoga or anything else that relaxes you. Recognition and reward are a valuable asset to an employer because when an employee feels valued, it will help with morale and turnover. I also believe that another indicator of turnover for nurses is when they become less engaged and committed in their workplace.
Another contributor to burnout is compassion fatigue which refers to a state of chronic stress as a result of witnessing the affliction of others. It’s when a nurse becomes emotionally exhausted from caring for those that are suffering. Compassion fatigue has become so critical that psychologist refer to it as secondary traumatic stress disorder. It has become prevalent due to the increase in occurrences of chronic illnesses. NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES AND RISK FACTORS The most significant consequence of nursing burnout is patient care.
The Nursing Career and Stress and Work-Related Burnout Working in the healthcare field can be overwhelming because of the continuous exposure to stressful events such as illnesses and death. Additionally, healthcare workers may suffer from high work demands such as long working hours, healthcare team relationship issues, and shortage of staff. To contribute with tension, these workers may also be exposed to daily unrelated work problems such as lack of personal time, family and financial issues. Many nurses are often exposed to these stressors and consequently are troubled with job dissatisfaction and burnout because of an imbalance between their work environment and personal life. The nursing profession alone can be very demanding and due
At this stage, nurses will feel an emotional distance from patients and be more concerned with personal priorities. 2. Stage 2: Frustration and indifference. At this stage, nurses will feel cynical and their personal relationships begin to be strained. 3.
The Nursing Career and Stress and Work-Related Burnout Working in the healthcare field can be overwhelming because of the continuous exposure to stressful events such as illnesses and death. Additionally, healthcare workers may suffer from high work demands such as long working hours, healthcare team relationship issues, and shortage of staff. To contribute with tension, these workers may also be exposed to daily unrelated work problems such as lack of personal time, family and financial issues. Many nurses are often exposed to these stressors and consequently are troubled with job dissatisfaction and burnout because of an imbalance between their work environment and personal life. The nursing profession alone can be very demanding and due
Lastly, I think that nursing involves being with individual patients or communities and being engaged in the moment. Each day we as nurses encounter different situations that require our ability to make meaning of a patient 's situation, such as, attaching significance to those
What does nursing mean to me? It embodies a love for helping people heal, meeting their needs while they are in your care and are unable to care for themselves, listening to concerns, protecting them from harm, and educating them how to care for themselves while treating them with dignity, compassion and respect. Good nursing is giving of yourself to the care of people and community, while expecting nothing in return. It is having compassion for people and their health, being a humanitarian, and making sure patients receive the best care possible. Dealing with families of patients with gentleness and kindness, realizing they are going through a stressful situation is also a duty of nurses.