Combating Compassion Fatigue - Research Paper Example

What is Compassion Fatigue? The term “compassion fatigue” was first used in a nursing journal in 1992 to refer to “situations where nurses had either turned off their own feelings or experienced helplessness and anger in response to the stress they feel watching patients go through devastating illness or trauma” (Yoder, 2010). A more practical definition of compassion fatigue is that it is “the result of direct exposure to the suffering of care recipients rather than to a stressful work environment” (Ward-Griffin et al., 2011). It means that while burnout is caused by a stressful environment at work, compassion fatigue is caused by the suffering of patients that nurses and caregivers are exposed to. However, lately, the definition has become broader and the same term now describes “a combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion associated with caring for patients in significant emotional pain and physical distress” (Lombardo & Eyre, 2011). Compassion fatigue is actually “secondary traumatic stress” usually derived from seeing others suffer (Landro, 2012). Before, the term used to apply only to nurses but now it does apply to almost any medical professional including caregivers and physicians. The problem with compassion fatigue is that it has been linked to more sick days and decreased productivity among medical professionals, as well as higher death rates and reduced safety of patients (Landro, 2012). How Do You Know You Have Compassion Fatigue? Frequent use of sick days or sick leave (Landro, 2012) Avoidance of or indifference to certain patients (Landro, 2012) Reduced empathy towards patients or the nurses’ own loved ones (Landro, 2012) Lack of or reduced joyfulness in carrying out tasks (Landro, 2012) Physical symptoms like digestive problems, sleeping problems, muscle tension, headaches, general body weakness and chest pain together with tachycardia (Landro, 2012) Emotional symptoms of compassion fatigue may include anxiety, oversensitivity, mood swings, irritability, restlessness, depression, loss of the sense of objectivity, poor memory and concentration, and excessive use of chemicals like cigarette, alcohol and even illicit drugs (Landro, 2012). Other symptoms like hypertension, workaholism, low self-esteem, chronic lateness or tardiness, a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, feelings of hopelessness, increased frequency of blaming and complaining, and a tendency to feel mentally or physically exhausted for no known reasons (Pfifferling & Gilley, 2000). Other symptoms like reexperience of a past trauma of a traumatized person as well as amnesia (McSteen, 2010). What Brings About Compassion Fatigue? Lack of personal and professional resources to combat the fatigue (Ward-Griffin et al., 2011) Increasing family care expectations (Ward-Griffin et al., 2011) Blurring of emotional boundaries between professional and personal care work, which results in the caregiver’s “unconscious assimilation” of the patient’s distress (Boyle, 2011) Vicarious traumatization or the caregiver’s identification with the patient’s suffering but usually of an unreasonably greater intensity compared to the experience of the usual symptoms (McSteen, 2010). Listening to stories of child abuse or those of a similar nature, caring for the injured and dying, providing support to rape victims, and interacting with terminally ill patients (Marchand & Min, 2009). CAREGIVER NEEDS Physical Needs of a Caregiver Sleep and rest (Grant, 2008) Proper diet and exercise (Grant, 2008) Relaxation time (Your Needs: Physical Needs, 2011) Emotional Needs of a Caregiver Time to be with friends and family (Grant, 2008) Paying attention to one’s feelings (Your Needs: Emotional Needs, 2011) Time to be alone (Your Needs: Emotional Needs, 2011) Expressing your feelings (Your Needs: Emotional Needs, 2011) A wide emotional network, caregiver assistance and consultation, training tools, caregiver counseling, support groups and respite care (The Emotional Challenges of Caregiving, 2008) Spiritual Needs of a Caregiver Strengthening of faith (Grant, 2008) A mind free from guilt and hopelessness (Grant, 2008) Time to pray, meditate or practice rituals (Your Needs: Spiritual Needs, 2011) Time to talk to a chaplain, religious confidante or any religious figure (Your Needs: Spiritual Needs, 2011) Time to attend church services (Your Needs: Spiritual Needs, 2011) Meaning of one’s role as caregiver (Your Needs: Spiritual Needs, 2011) What Should Be Done to Help the Patient Cope? The medical health professional in charge of treating the patient with compassion fatigue should ensure that: He does an honest self-assessment. This is all about writing down one’s commitments and separating tasks into what he has to do for others and what he has to do for himself. The most important thing that one should accomplish through this task is being able to find time for one’s self (Ganahl, 2011). He seeks help from other family members or friends for taking care of his patient at home. However, care should be taken to ensure that no one person is given more task than he can honestly handle (Ganahl, 2011). He gains the courage to honestly tell his patient at home – be it his mother or an ailing relative – to contribute to their own care. Ask the patient to get their loved ones involved in involved in household chores if they can and if it is not harmful to them (Ganahl, 2011). This way they are teaching them the basic fact that after all, they are and should still be responsible for their own health. He protects himself from guilt by letting go of guilty feelings especially concerning the things that you believe he cannot provide to the patient. He should not take the patient’s anger personally and always forgive himself for being able to do only as much as he can (Ganahl, 2011). He recognizes and remembers his needs as much as he remembers those of his patient. He should not feel guilty when he has to take a break sometimes and do things for himself, no matter how selfish this may seem to him (Ganahl, 2011). Resources American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress www.aaets.orgﾧ National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder www.ncptsd.va.govﾧ International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies www.istss.orgﾧ References Emmanuel, L., Ferris, F. D., Von Gunten, C. F. & Von Roenn, J. F. (2011). Running on Empty: Combating Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Cancer Care. Retrieved from Medscape: http://compassionfatigue.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CF-and-burnout-in-cancer-care.pdf Ganahl, J. (2011). How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout. Retrieved from Second Act: http://www.secondact.com/2011/10/10-tips-to-avoid-caregiver-burnout/ Grant, M. (2008). Understanding and Addressing the Needs of Caregivers. Retrieved from Stanford University: http://bmt.stanford.edu/documents/symposium2008/grant.pdf Landro, L. (2012). When Nurses Catch Compassion Fatigue, Patients Suffer. Retrieved from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204720204577128882104188856.html Lombardo, B. & Eyre, C. (2011). Compassion Fatigue: A Nurse’s Primer. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(1). Retrieved from the American Nurses Association: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-16-2011/No1-Jan-2011/Compassion-Fatigue-A-Nurses-Primer.html Marchand, C. & Min, D. (2009). Possible Causes of Compassion Fatigue. Retrieved from the Dr. Christopher Marchand website: http://www.christophermarchand.ca/recognizing-compassion-fatigue/possible-causes-for-compassion-fatigue.html Mathieu, F. (2007). Running on Empty: Compassion Fatigue in Health Professionals. Retrieved from Workshops for the Helping Professions: http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/RunningOnEmpty.pdf McSteen, K. L. (2010). Compassion fatigue in oncology nursing: A witness to suffering. Oncology Nurse Advisor, 17-22. Retrieved from the Oncology Nurse Advisor: http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/compassion-fatigue-in-oncology-nursing-a-witness-to-suffering/article/179700/ Pfifferling, J. & Gilley, K. (2000). Overcoming Compassion Fatigue. Family Practical Management, 7(4): 39-44. Retrieved from the American Academy of Family Physicians: http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2000/0400/p39.html Potter, P., Deshields, T., Divanbeigi, J., Berger, J., Cipriano, D., Norris, L. & Olsen, S. (2010). Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: Prevalence Among Oncology Nurses. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14(5): E56-E62. Retrieved from the Oncology Nursing Society: http://www.ons.org/Publications/CJON/Features/media/ons/docs/publications/potter.pdf The Emotional Challenges of Caregiving. (2008). Retrieved from the Aging and Disability Services Administration of Washington State Department of Social and Health Services: http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/caregiving/documents/Emotional%20Challenges%20of%20Caregiving.pdf Yoder, E. A. (2010). Compassion fatigue in nurses. Applied Nursing Research, 23: 191-197. Retrieved from Stanford University: http://ccare.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/CompassionFatigue_Nurses.pdf Your Needs: Emotional Needs. (2011). Retrieved from Continuum Health Partners Inc.: http://www.netofcare.org/content/your_needs/emotional_needs.asp Your Needs: Physical Needs. (2011). Retrieved from Continuum Health Partners Inc.: http://www.netofcare.org/content/your_needs/physical_needs.asp Your Needs: Spiritual Needs. (2011). Retrieved from Continuum Health Partners Inc.: http://netofcare.org/content/your_needs/spiritual_needs.asp Read More