The Claybury community psychiatric nurse (CPN) stress study collected data on stress levels in 250 CPNs and 323 ward-based psychiatric nurses (WBPN) in the North East Thames region. Four out of 10 CPNs were found to be experiencing high levels of psychological distress on GHQ scores. Whilst both CPNs and WBPNs scored highly on scores of occupational burnout, especially on emotional exhaustion scores, WBPNs scored worse on emotional detachment from their patients and were achieving less personal fulfilment from their work. Both groups of nurses were more satisfied with direct patient clinical work than with their employment conditions, particularly their working environments and, for CPNs, their relationships with their managers. The different patterns of coping skills are explored and discussed for both groups of nurses, especially the use of social support, time management and organization of tasks. The study concludes that whilst major changes are occurring in the psychiatric arena for both groups of nurses, stress is reaping its toll on mental health nurses, in terms of higher absence rates, lower self-esteem and personal unfulfilment. This could not only affect the quality of patient care but also future career prospects for nurses. The study invites serious consideration of introducing stress-reducing measures in the work-place as well as further research into specific stressors for different groups of nurses.
developing, creating and cultivating environments that foster compassionate care for self and others may play a significant role in helping midwives face the rigours of education and clinical practice during their degree programme.
High levels of self-compassion were linked with lower levels of burnout. Furthermore when community nurses have greater compassion satisfaction they also report more compassion for others, increased wellbeing, and less burnout. The implications of this are discussed alongside suggestions for the promotion of greater compassion.
An exploratory study, funded by the Department of Health, London and the Scottish Home and Health Department, Edinburgh, was conducted over an 18-month period to provide an informed view on possible assessment tools that could be used to assess the impact of clinical supervision (CS) in nursing and to report on the CS activities in 23 selected sites in England and Scotland. The study not only examined the utility of several standardized research instruments, to be reported separately, but also explored the experience of a small sub-sample of nurses (n = 34) engaged in CS, as supervisors and supervisees. Interviews were undertaken to help better understand some of the issues involved around the domains of structure, process and outcome. Respondents reported an enthusiasm for the opportunity to talk meaningfully to a trusted colleague about their personal circumstances at work. Such opportunities were particularly welcomed by nurses who wished to reflect upon their own practice with patients, especially when dealing with their clinical conditions which were upsetting, or otherwise challenging, and sometimes harrowing. Substantive and methodological areas of interest for future research are suggested.
Background
Prolonged deficiency in self‐care strategies puts counsellors and psychotherapists at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue.
Aim
To measure associations between self‐compassion, compassion fatigue, well‐being and burnout in student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists.
Method
A quantitative survey using four validated data collection instruments: (1) Professional Quality of Life Scale; (2) Self‐Compassion Scale; (3) short Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale; (4) Compassion For Others scale, was used to measure relationships between self‐compassion, compassion fatigue, well‐being and burnout.
Participants
A mixed sample of student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists (n = 54) in their final year of study.
Results
This preliminary study shows that student counsellors and student cognitive behavioural psychotherapists who reported high on measures of self‐compassion and well‐being also reported less compassion fatigue and burnout.
Implications for practice
Compassion fatigue and burnout are found in many modern‐day, highly stressful healthcare professions. The practice of self‐compassion could help student practitioners manage these symptoms and subsequently improve their professional quality of life.
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