Compassion Fatigue: A Case Study

Nurses devote their lives to care for others. With nursing knowledge, skill and experience, they are able to care for patients and touch the lives they have helped. Although nursing has many benefits, nurses can experience a common condition called “compassion fatigue.” According to Black (2014), she defines compassion fatigue as “a condition in which one experiences loss of physical energy, burnout, accident proneness, emotional breakdowns, apathy, indifference, poor judgement, and disinterest in introspection (2014, p. 215). Compassion fatigue is an important issue in nursing. Compassion fatigue can directly affect the nurse’s ability to deliver optimal care. Most nurses put their patient’s needs before their own. When the nurse neglects to care for him or herself it puts their physical, mental and emotional health at risk. Nurses can …show more content…
If the nurse is in constant distress and experiences fatigue, it will greatly reflect the patient’s care. “Workplace place stress can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. As reported by NIOSH (2008), health care workers, compared to other professionals, have higher rates of substance abuse and suicide (Levin & Zeller, 2013, p. 85).” Levin & Zeller (2013) present to use ways in which nurses can reduce stress and fatigue. It is important nurses are aware of these programs and training so they are able to help themselves during times of stress from the demands of this profession. “A new approach called “mindfulness training” is available to reduce stress and help nurses manage personal emotions. Nurses engaged in mindfulness training are better able to recognize thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations as they arise under situations of impending stress (Levin & Zeller, 2013, p. 85).” Practicing mindfulness will help the nurse cope in the present moment. Mindfulness could also prevent nurses from burnout or negative effects on