Compassion Fatigue: Concept Analysis in Nursing Practice

Compassion Fatigue: Concept Analysis in Nursing Practice

Concept Selection

The concept that I have selected in this paper is compassion fatigue in nursing practices. This concept will be analysed using the concept analysis method. Compassion is a virtue - whereby an individual is inclined to perceive or feel the suffering of others, and pushed to remedy. Hence, there is a need of the word, as well as that of empathy. "Pity" and "pity" both became pejorative, but originally meant compassion, as "mercy" and its synonym "pity". Compassion is a predisposition to the perception and recognition of the pain of others, causing a reaction of solidarity active, or just emotional. It is therefore a variant of empathy -based pain. We can also bring compassion, which implies that one is detached from oneself; otherwise it can easily be confused with pity, with its component of complacency (Commendador, 2003). The same compassion for others may be confused with pity, in the modern sense, with its connotation of condescension. This paper would focus on the study of compassion fatigue in nursing practices. It can be said that as the nurse practitioners are always being compassionate in their careers, it is obvious that that they might be several times faced with fatigue during their careers.

Aims or Purpose of the Analysis

The aims or purpose of this analysis is to identify the causes of compassion fatigue in nursing practices. People, who are at greatest risk of suffering from compassion fatigue, are the ones who have to care for family members, such as social workers and nurses. Physicians, mental health workers, counselors and psychiatrists are also at a high risk of compassion fatigue (Van Hook, Rothenberg, 2009). Although compassion fatigue is seen by people in a profession that requires them in contact with trauma victims, affecting work, it is not limited to people who work in such a profession. People who care expenditure of large and emotional support to another person constantly, can become emotionally and mentally exhausted, leading to compassion fatigue (Barnes, 1997). Some common causes of compassion fatigue are listed below.

Interaction with and cares for terminally ill patients every day.

The maintenance of a physically or mentally disabled child.

Counseling bereaved families in times of severe natural disasters.

Counseling for victims of sexual abuse.

Working in a hotline to support and encourage trauma patients.

In close cooperation with mentally handicapped people.

The support of people suffering from depression (Barnes, 1997).

Most people equate compassion fatigue caused by working in a profession that is concerned needs to be initiated with trauma victims. However, a person suffering from compassion fatigue even while maintaining his / her own family. Suppose a person has elderly parents who are suffering from some incurable disease. Caring for every day such a family member may be emotionally and physically exhausting to the point where the manager simply exists on autopilot with a gradual decrease in feelings of sympathy for the patient (Barnes, 1997). If you work in a nursing home type job, it is important to find ...