Hardiness as a Defense Against Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

Abstract

The research article, “Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue Among Emergency Nurses Compared with Nurses in Other Selected Inpatient Specialties”1Hooper C Craig J Janvrin DR Wetsel MA Reimels E Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue among emergency nurses compared with nurses in other selected inpatient specialties.J Emerg Nurs. 2010; 36: 420-427Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (361) Google Scholar was of particular interest to me as a leader of emergency nurses. The researchers' findings rejected the hypothesis that emergency nurses were more likely to suffer burnout and compassion fatigue than were inpatient nurses. I am responding to the article to offer suggestions from the literature that may serve to combat the problems of burnout and compassion fatigue. Most nurses are exposed to stress, but increasing hardiness may help. A study by Boyle, Grap, Younger, and Thornby2Boyle A Grap M Younger J Thornby D Personality hardiness, ways of coping, social support and burnout in critical care nurses.J Adv Nurs. 1991; 16: 850-857Crossref PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar found that personality hardiness negatively correlated with burnout and positively correlated to social support. Judkins3Judkins S Stress among nurse managers: can anything help?.Nurse Res. 2004; 12: 58-70Crossref PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar found that high levels of nurse manager hardiness predicted lower levels of stress. Judkins, Massey, and Huff4Judkins S Massey C Huff B Hardiness, stress, and use of ill-time among nurse managers: is there a connection?.Nurs Econ. 2006; 24: 187-192PubMed Google Scholar found that nurse managers with high hardiness–high stress scores used 52% less sick time than did those with low hardiness–high stress scores. Judkins, Reid, and Furlow5Judkins S , Reid B, Furlow L. Hardiness training among nurse managers: building a healthy workplace. J Cont Educ Nurs. 2006;37:202-9, 238.Google Scholar increased nurse manager hardiness levels through a hardiness training program that sustained hardiness over time. The researchers concluded that hardiness training might ultimately lead to reduced burnout and illness while increasing job satisfaction and nurse retention. These findings point to the importance of increasing hardiness in our workforce. Nurse leaders should be alert to the symptoms and take steps to address nursing compassion fatigue and burnout. Using evidenced-based leadership skills to empower nurses, facilitating access to hardiness training, and educating staff in stress reduction techniques and coping skills can create healthy work environments that support nurses socially and professionally and mitigate these devastating effects of working in a stressful profession. Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue Among Emergency Nurses Compared With Nurses in Other Selected Inpatient SpecialtiesJournal of Emergency NursingVol. 36Issue 5PreviewToday the proportion of acute patients entering the health care system through emergency departments continues to grow, the number of uninsured patients relying primarily on treatment in the emergency department is increasing, and patients' average acuities are rising. At the same time, support resources are constrained, while reimbursement and reputation depends increasingly on publicly available measures of patient satisfaction. It is important to understand the potential effect of these pressures on direct care staff. Full-Text PDF