Oncology nurses’ compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction

Abstract

Background: For oncology nurses, compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfactions are frequently experienced psychosocial consequences of the oncology work environment. Surveying such phenomena helps to understand how nurses feel and behave when cancer care is provided. Besides, tracking the evolving nature of those three concepts can lend a hand for the early detection of personal and professional suffering of nurses while offering some healing remedies to their struggling bodies and souls.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the level of compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction among a group of specialized oncology nurses. Besides, this study aimed to detect some probable interesting inferences between compassion satisfaction and the concept of rest and leisure. Correlations between compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction were investigated. Correlations between oncology nurses' scores on the three subscales and a group of demographic, organizational and leisure-related variables were examined. Methods:This study adopted a descriptive correlation design to survey compassion fatigue, burn out and compassion satisfaction among a convenient sample of 100 oncology nurses who work in a specialized cancer care centre. Participants completed compassion fatigue self-test developed by Figely (Compassion fatigue, New York: Brunner/ Mazel. B. HudnallStamm, Traumatic Stress Research Group; 1995-1998. http://www.dartm outh.edu/~bhsta mm/index .htm, 1995) and a literature-based demographic survey. Analysis of data included descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation co-efficient.Results: Nurses reported a low level of compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for burn out and an extremely high risk for compassion fatigue. Results revealed significant negative relationships among compassion satisfaction and the number of dependents per nurse. Additionally the correlation between compassion satisfaction and the nurses' number of hours slept was positive. Only two components of the concept rest and leisure yielded statistical significance when correlated to the concept of compassion satisfaction. A significant negative relationship was observed between compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue while a strong positive relationship was observed between compassion fatigue and burn out. Conclusions:The studied oncology nurses sample had evidently low level of compassion satisfaction when contrasted to the significantly increased risks of burn out and compassion fatigue. Thus, health authorities and management are advised to care, in a holistic approach, for nurses who work in oncology departments. Staff-oriented services that offer comfort, reward, leisure, screening, consultation and support are urgently recommended.

Well‐being of nurses and working conditions—Are polish nurses different from doctors and midwives in terms of professional quality of life?

“…In the group of physicians, there was no correlation between the variables studied and occupational satisfaction, professional burnout, and compassion fatigue. respect (Jarrad & Hammad, 2020;Monroe et al, 2020). Research conducted among nursing staff indicates large deficits in the implementation of the above conditions, which may be confirmed by the results obtained in the study (Babiarczyk, Fraś, Ulman-Włodarz, & Jarosova, 2014;Kupcewicz, Szczypiński, & Kędzia, 2018).…”

WITHDRAWN: Prevention and Management of Compassion Fatigue (CF) in Clinical Nurses: a Qualitative Content Analysis

“…In line with this study, Pergol-Metko & Czyżewski stated managers should pay special attention to the number of working hours of nurses because overtime work is an important predictor of CF (28). Jarrad and Hammad (2020) recommended that health managers must care about nurses with a holistic approach and services such as support, comfort, leisure activity, consultation must be provided for nurses in work environment (5).…”

“…CF increase rates of absenteeism, burnout, turnover, stress, depression, insomnia, nightmares, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints and anxiety disorders. It is associated with a regular decrease in empathy and compassionate care, an increase in clinical errors, and consequently a decline in quality of care (1,5).…”

“…Nurses gradually lose their feelings of selfe cacy, competency, and satisfaction. Finally, they are affected by numerous physical, emotional, social and spiritual complication, which menace the existential integrity of them (2,5). CF increase rates of absenteeism, burnout, turnover, stress, depression, insomnia, nightmares, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints and anxiety disorders.…”

Self-care strategies in response to nurses’ moral injury during COVID-19 pandemic

“…Unattended stressors can lead to secondary traumatic effects which are identified as negative feelings, vicariously acquired due to indirect exposure of trauma-related events. 21 If nurses do not have proper education, training and tools to mitigate this trauma and this pandemic continues long term, nurses will be ill prepared to respond to the psychological effects that could lead to burnout and turnover, or worse. Nurses who experience burnout may experience impaired emotional and physical health and a diminished sense of well-being.…”