Abstract
BackgroundCaring for cancer patients can take a toll on the emotional health of oncology nurses, which may lead to compassion fatigue, resulting in decreased quality of nursing care, absenteeism and decreased retention of staff.AimThe aim of this study was to describe compassion fatigue from the perspective of oncology nurses. This study is part of a larger mixed-methods action research study to develop an in-facility intervention to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nurses.SettingThis study was conducted at Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsThe research setting comprised one state hospital (with oncology clinics and wards), a private hospital (with oncology wards) and a hospice in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews (guided by Figley’s Compassion Fatigue Process, 2005) were conducted with eight participants. Data were analysed using manifest content analysis.ResultsFive categories emerged from the data, namely, emotional connection, emotional fatigue, emotional loss, blurring boundaries and acceptance.ConclusionThe findings revealed that oncology nurses are affected emotionally in caring for their patients, thus making them prone to compassion fatigue. Oncology nurses need to acknowledge compassion fatigue and be able to self-reflect on how they are managing (both positively and negatively) with the stressors encountered in the oncology wards or units.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundBecause of prolonged and continual contact with recurrent deaths, grief and hopelessness experienced by patients and their families, the oncology nurse is at a high risk of developing compassion fatigue (Coetzee & Klopper 2010; Gillespie 2013; Potter et al 2013)
Five categories emerged from the data, namely, emotional connection, emotional fatigue, emotional loss, blurring boundaries and acceptance
The findings revealed that oncology nurses are affected emotionally in caring for their patients, making them prone to compassion fatigue
Summary
Introduction and backgroundBecause of prolonged and continual contact with recurrent deaths, grief and hopelessness experienced by patients and their families, the oncology nurse is at a high risk of developing compassion fatigue (Coetzee & Klopper 2010; Gillespie 2013; Potter et al 2013). Nursing cancer patients can provide personal and intellectual fulfilment, this can take a toll on the oncology nurses’ physical and emotional health (Gillespie 2013). Nurses commonly empathise with patient deaths and may experience a personal sense of futility or failure in their nursing care (Potter et al 2013; Slocum-Gori et al 2011). Caring for cancer patients can take a toll on the emotional health of oncology nurses, which may lead to compassion fatigue, resulting in decreased quality of nursing care, absenteeism and decreased retention of staff
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