Professional paper

https://doi.org/10.11608/sgnj.28.3.9

Are we tired of compassion?

Nevena Šimunić orcid.org/0009-0005-0598-9166 ; Opća bolnica Šibensko-kninske županije, Stjepana Radića 83, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska / Veleučilište u Šibeniku, Trg Andrije Hebranga 11, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska
Vesna Bušac orcid.org/0009-0008-1768-3895 ; Veleučilište u Šibeniku, Trg Andrije Hebranga 11, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska
Roko Šimunić ; Medicinska škola Šibenik, Ante Šupuka 29, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska
Nikolina Višnjić Junaković ; Opća bolnica Šibensko-kninske županije, Stjepana Radića 83, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska / Veleučilište u Šibeniku, Trg Andrije Hebranga 11, 22 000 Šibenik, Hrvatska

Abstract

Nurses are indispensable members of healthcare who provide continuous and holistic care to patients during treatment. However, due to the frequent traumatic situations and stressful experiences they encounter in their daily work, nurses are exposed to the risk of developing compassion fatique, reduced job satisfaction, and burnout, which negatively affects their ability to provide quality care.
Compassion fatigue is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that includes emotional exhaustion, feelings of depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment. Nurses are at greater risk of developing compassion fatigue compared to other healthcare professionals due to their close interaction with patients, long work periods, and the high degree of responsibility that their job entails.
Compassion fatigue has serious consequences for the quality of healthcare, so healthcare organizations should recognize this phenomenon and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing compassion fatigue among their staff. That includes developing education and support programs for healthcare workers, providing emotional support and mentoring, adapting the work environment, and establishing policies that promote self-help and employee health care.
Understanding and recognizing compassion fatigue is vital to the health and well-being of nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations. As indispensable members of the health care team, nurses deserve support and care to ensure they can continue to provide the best possible care to patients.

Keywords

nurses; compassion fatigue; risk factors; interventions

Hrčak ID:

311122

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/311122

Publication date:

15.12.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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