Combating Compassion Fatigue



Combating Compassion Fatigue

Introduction

The Compassion Fatigue is being defined as the combination of emotional, spiritual and physical depletion linked with the caring of patients in important physical distress and emotional pain. This can also include the apathy, impaired judgment and depression. This is considered to be unique type of burnout which affects the individuals in terms of care giving roles. The compassion fatigue is at times precipitated through burn out; it is not always the case (Ellie & Vicki, 2010). The burn out is actually defined as the syndrome for emotional depersonalization, reduced accomplishments and exhaustion which occurred among the individuals that do “people work of some kind”. The symptoms for both are quite the same; however the warning signs differ greatly.

Thus, Compassion fatigue is known to be as secondary post-traumatic stress disorder. Nurses posses a propensity for carrying on the burdens and problems of others, their coworkers, friends, patients, and families that may leave them exhausted and feeling empty.

Discussion and Analysis

The Warning Signs

Some of the warning signs that a care giver might experience compassion fatigue include the physical symptoms, emotional and work-related symptoms as well. Thus, some of the work related symptoms might include the dread of working or avoidance towards the families or patients, lack of joyfulness and frequent use of sick days (Ayala, 1989).

Thus, it requires a multi-pronged approach for reducing the negative impact and affect. The organization and their policies plays a vital role through creating conditions which not just reduces the risk for compassion fatigue and burnout, instead it also promotes more effective and healthy workers. Compassion fatigue can result from exposure to a traumatic event or a series of them and usually manifests suddenly.

The workers that are engaged in direct patient care are often exposed to the negativity and sufferings on the daily basis. The workers face an increasing demand in the workplace, whereas in at home they juggle the personal interests, family life and are often unable to provide care to their own children and their aging parents also (Anne, 1995).

Cost To Caring

There is a cost to caring. Therapists, who work with rape victims, often develop a dislike for the rapists that extends to other men. Those working with other types of crime "feel paranoid" about his safety and seek more security. Ironically, the most effective therapists are the most vulnerable to this mirror effect. Those who have an enormous capacity for feeling and expressing empathy tend to have higher risk of compassion stress (Peter, 2008).

The compassion fatigue is often caused because of empathy. It is the natural consequence in stressing out the result from the care and helping the traumatized or even the suffering people. Moral distress is another term often used related to burn out, however often there is an ethical component or dilemma associated. Nurses frequently find themselves in the middle of conflicts involving patient care issues, especially related to end-of-life or futility of care. This produces a great deal of stress for the nurse ...