Compassion fatigue and mental health nursing: the final taboo?

Abstract

For mental health nurses, a core component of the nurse–patient relationship is compassion. Bearing witness to patients' distress may lead to the manifestation of compassion fatigue; a decrease in compassionate and empathic responses because of prolonged contact with patients with mental ill health issues. Mental health nurses, particularly those who work in areas where they are exposed to frequent crisis presentations, such as inpatient settings and crisis teams, are at risk of developing compassion fatigue, yet there remains a paucity of research into the impact on those delivering mental health care in the UK. This article highlights the importance of identifying compassion fatigue, advocates for open honest and supportive discussions without fear of reprimand, and argues that possible workplace causes should be effectively addressed by nurse leaders and organisations, not just for sake of the mental health nurse and their employers, but also to ensure positive patient outcomes.