Purpose
The purpose of the exploration on the concept of compassion fatigue, in the context of acute care nursing, is to promote a clear, and precise understanding of the phenomena of compassion fatigue in clinical practice, share an exemplar case, discuss antecedents, consequences, and provide empirical evidence.
Defining Concept Within a Context
Compassion has been thought to be one of the most central components of nursing and thought to be a core characteristic in all nurses (“Compassion Fatigue,” 2014). Recent research has brought to light that nurses are experiencing the opposite, compassion fatigue. According to Joinson, in 1992, compassion fatigue is a type of burnout specific to caregivers who help trauma patients. Traumatic …show more content…
All of the workplace stressors were the norm and the patients were the burden. Staff did bring up valid points around the “inappropriate use” of the ER such as patients who uses the ER for a primary care office or primary care offices sending patients to the ER due to access issues. Regardless of the reason, all patients deserve respect and compassion. This really broke my heart as the reason I became an ER nurse was because I enjoyed being at patients most vulnerable point. Nonetheless, of the fact that I may have known it wasn’t a “true emergency”, the patients felt it …show more content…
Awareness is essential among compassion fatigue not only emphasizes the reality of burnout, increased unnecessary stress, negative work environments, lack of leadership support, nursing retention problems, reduced patient satisfaction scores, and financial contingencies specifically patient reimbursements (Kelly, 2015; Hunsaker, 2015; Sacco, 2015; Lachman, 2016). However, positive resolutions have been established to improve nursing recognition specifically, the “daisy award (Diseases Attacking the Immune System)” within nursing practice in recognizing exceptional nurses who demonstrate admirable quality patient care, as well as “Magnet hospitals” known for highly respected nursing practice (Kelly, Runge, & Spencer, 2015, p.524,526). Our future as professionals brings an imperative opportunity in utilizing nursing science, knowledge, research, and apply nursing as well as patient feedback in preventing compassion fatigue. Further research will continue to be studied as healthcare continues to