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Compassion Fatigue Research Paper

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Compassion Fatigue Research Paper
Compassion Fatigue
Jessica Schultz
Brigham Young University – Idaho

What does compassion fatigue mean?
Compassion fatigue is a severe exhaustion that results from the strain of caregiving. Prolonged, continuous, and intense caring for patients and families that are dealing with stressful changes can lead to compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue can be described as the combination of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Burnout involves emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization. Secondary traumatic stress is caused by feelings of pressure, anxiety, as well as many other negative emotions that accompany caring for others who have experienced traumatic events. If compassion fatigue is not caught and taken care of early …show more content…
Emotional changes can occur as a result of compassion fatigue such as, anger, apathy, desensitization, discouragement, flashbacks, feelings of being overwhelmed or hopeless, irritability, decreased enthusiasm, or sarcasm. There are also intellectual signs that can be detected such as, boredom, disorderliness, impaired concentration, and a lessened attention to detail. Physical symptoms that can be noticed on an individual experiencing compassion fatigue are, an increased amount of complaints, loss of energy, loss of endurance, loss of strength, increase in accidents, sense of fatigue, and exhaustion. Social life changes that can occur are, rudeness, feelings of being “left out”, difficulty sharing or alleviating suffering, indifference, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, unresponsiveness, or a withdrawal from family and friends. Spirituality is often affected when facing compassion fatigue. The individual may notice a decrease and disinterest in self-analysis, a lack of spiritual awareness, or an increase in poor judgment. Maybe one of the most detrimental effects of compassion fatigue is the affect it has one’s work ethic. Compassion fatigue can cause an increase in being absent, ignoring patient problems, a desire to quit, a decrease in job performance quality, and tardiness. Although the effects of compassion fatigue can be detrimental, there are ways to prevent and lessen the symptoms …show more content…
A. (2011, January 31). Countering Compassion Fatigue: A Requisite Nursing Agenda. Retrieved March 19, 2017, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-16-2011/No1-Jan-2011/Countering-Compassion-Fatigue.html
Kelly, L., Runge, J., & Spencer, C. (2015). Predictors of Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction in Acute Care Nurses. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 47(6), 522-528. doi:10.1111/jnu.12162Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016, November 03). Urinary tract infection (UTI) Prevention. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/basics/prevention/con-20037892
Marr, L. (2009). Can Compassion Fatigue?. Journal Of Palliative Medicine, 12(8), 739-740.
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