The Consequence of Caring Too Much: Compassion Fatigue and the Trauma Nurse

Abstract

Working in the trauma unit can be considered “chaotic and hectic.” 2. Chase MM Emergency Department Nurses’ Lived Experiences With Compassion Fatigue [master’s thesis]. Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL2005 Google Scholar The continuous influx of patients, overcrowding, resource constraints, high acuity of patients, common holdups in waiting for inpatient beds, bearing the brunt of patients’ and visitors’ anxieties and concerns, coupled with few skilled nursing staff increase the stresses placed on a nurse. 2. Chase MM Emergency Department Nurses’ Lived Experiences With Compassion Fatigue [master’s thesis]. Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL2005 Google Scholar , 3. Hooper C Craig J Janvrin D 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: 420-427 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (361) Google Scholar The trauma unit nurse must be able to recognize and prioritize emergencies, perform rapid assessments, initiate treatments, and competently execute a variety of resuscitation techniques. 2. Chase MM Emergency Department Nurses’ Lived Experiences With Compassion Fatigue [master’s thesis]. Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL2005 Google Scholar In addition, the nurse is exposed to numerous traumatic events and witnesses the suffering of others, often on a daily basis. This increased stress can cause “psychological and emotional problems for the trauma unit nurse” which can ultimately lead to compassion fatigue. 2. Chase MM Emergency Department Nurses’ Lived Experiences With Compassion Fatigue [master’s thesis]. Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL2005 Google Scholar An added factor is, in the trauma unit, the nurse frequently does not take time for self-care, instead putting their patients’ needs before their own and increasing their vulnerability to emotional distress and subsequent compassion fatigue. 2. Chase MM Emergency Department Nurses’ Lived Experiences With Compassion Fatigue [master’s thesis]. Florida State University, Tallahasse, FL2005 Google Scholar Dorien Wentzel is Lecturer, 3rd year coordinator, and Oncology & Palliative Nursing Facilitator, School of School of Nursing & Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Petra Brysiewicz is Professor, School of School of Nursing & Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.