Combating Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is a term that describes the “cost of caring” for others in emotional distress (Figley, 2013). The medical field has begun to recognize that caregivers the nature of their work affects them emotionally. Whether, it is direct exposure to a traumatic event, secondary exposure, and full gamut in-between. Witnessing people inability to change their circumstance or improve their condition leads to emotional anguish to the caregiver. Therefore, the work of helping others requires caregivers to open their hearts and minds to their patients-however, this process makes caregiver vulnerable to being affected and possible damaged by their work.
Compassion is the core value for a caregiver’s work. It helpful in nursing since it gives soulfulness, healing resources and staying power. As caregivers’ overtime, care and assisting patients that are suffering can also have a toll on caregivers. This can lead to compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue can rule nurse unable to distinguish the difference between his or her own emotions and those of their patients. Compassion fatigue can happen to any person. Consequently, caregivers must be aware of the symptoms of compassion fatigue. To cope with compassion fatigue the use proactive measures to deal with it. Caregivers spend more time providing care but often forget about ourselves. Therefore, caregivers must take care of themselves if they want to provide quality patient care.
According to Boyle (2011) describes those at highest risk of developing compassion fatigue. He explains that those in the front lines of medicine absorbed in traumatic stress for those that they help. However, first responders such as firefighters, police officers, and paramedics have complex training and debriefs on coping strategies for traumatic situations nurses on the other hand do not. In addition, nurses often have an ongoing relationship with the patient and are responsible for the patient on a daily basis. Daily nurses have to respond to acute care situations and ongoing life threatening emergencies that are constantly absorbing for the caregiver. This paper looks at concepts of compassion fatigue, the physical, spiritual needs, and, emotional of the caregiver and coping strategies.
Concepts of Compassion Fatigue
The concepts of compassion fatigue are Cognitive, emotional, spiritual, somatic, and behavioral are major concepts of compassion fatigue. It is important that all healthcare professional should be aware of the warning signs (Boyle, 2011). These signs are early warning signals to see if one is suffering from compassion fatigue or if one is vulnerable. Early intervention is key to its management. In addition, each person has different warning signs therefore no one person will have the same warning signs.
Cognitive
Cognitive relates with mind, perceptions, and thoughts. An individual suffering from compassion fatigue will have decrease in their cognitive level. The individual becomes preoccupied with the patients illness. Cognitive problems results in reduced concentration, rigidity, disorientation, apathy, and preoccupation with trauma. Colleagues may notice a decrease in their performance.
Emotional
A person suffering from compassion fatigue may also have emotional symptoms. Anxiety, anger, guilt, fear, numbness, helplessness, depression, sadness, shock and depleted are some of the emotional symptoms of a person suffering from compassion fatigue. Similarly, at times they will have disturbing dreams about a family member or a close friend in their patient’s situation (Boyle, 2011). They also become preoccupied with their patients condition. Colleagues will notice that the person feels hopeless and sad.
Behavioral
Due to the decrease cognition this will results in behavioral problems. Irritable, withdrawn, poor sleeping patterns, nightmares, poor appetitive, and hypertension are some of the behavioral signs. These may also experience conflicts with their friends and colleagues. They may also be withdrawn and isolate themselves. Some can become substance abusers.
Spiritual
Compassion fatigue may also affect a person religious and spiritual belief. Therefore, the caregiver questions their religious or spiritual beliefs. Questioning the meaning of life, pervasive, loss of purpose, loss of faith, hopelessness and questioning the religious beliefs are some of the spiritual warning signs (Boyle, 2011). When they question the religious beliefs, they become angry with God.
Somatic
Somatic warning signs relate with the body. Sweating, rapid heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, aches and pains, dizziness, headaches, impaired immune systems and difficulties in sleeping are some of the somatic warning signs. Sometimes these individuals may have frequent colds due a low immune system.
Physical, Spiritual Needs and Emotional of the Nurse
Caregivers require physical, spiritual and emotional needs just like any other human being. Furthermore, compassion fatigue affects every aspect of a person including emotionally physically and spiritually. It is obvious that caregivers is a high demanding and unappreciated job and only few in the society can handle such a situation (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). Majority of the time caregivers are overworked and understaffed. This can have a profound impact on the body, if one does not recognize the need to take a break.
Physical Needs
Working the healthcare sector providing care for patient takes a toll on the body. Therefore, caregivers need to take care of themselves physically. In addition, caregivers tend to eat unhealthy foods on run therefore a healthy diet is very important because it will give the require energy to provide care (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). As a caregiver, needs a good rest at night and exercise. Sleep helps in restoring the body. Similarly, exercise helps in maintaining the proper weight. It can also reduce and ease anxiety and depression.
Emotional Needs
Caregivers are caring and compassion to the needs of the patient but often forget about themselves. Caregivers have emotional needs that require the needed attention. They get burned-out, stressed, and sometimes need a break. This emotional is a requirement to better deal with patients.
Spiritual Needs
Some caregiver may not require spiritual needs. Nevertheless, others that do should be free to express their spiritual needs. Practicing and believing spiritually helps in dealing with stressful situations and provide spiritual growth. Having faith helps an individual relax and let go of stressful circumstances.
Coping Strategies and Resources
They are many strategies that can help us understand, cope, and prevent compassion fatigue. First, there are self-assessment and reading material that are readily available on the Internet that can help in providing early diagnosis (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). Health care facilities should provide serenity rooms for employees that help them cope of stressful situation and gather themselves. These rooms have chairs, dim lights and beautiful scenery, where employees can get a time-out for a few minutes. In certain circumstances, a caregiver needs to leave the care unit for few minutes so that one can cope with things that are either personal or patient related. How a person copes is essential managing. There are different coping strategies that a caregiver can use. Most importantly separating work from personal life. Other coping strategies are going for a walk, exercise, reading books, even calling a friend to go out, or just venting out concerns to feel better. Religious practices such as praying or reading the bible are also helpful in combating compassion fatigue (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). However, it important to know that each person copes differently there it is essential to understand oneself and what best works.
Conclusion
The paper has identified different symptoms of compassion fatigue and its management. The nursing profession is very demanding and puts the caregiver at risk both emotionally physically and spiritually. The caregiver also encounters challenges in managing work and personal life due to a demanding full time job. The caregiver must understand that they are in control of their lives. Therefore, care of caregivers physical, spiritual and emotional well-being is first before taking care of others. For a caregivers’ losing the joy of taking care of others is terrible. In addition, caregivers must understand that help is available when combating compassion fatigue recognizing the issue is essential to recovery. Establishing a balance between work and personal life, a therapeutic coping strategy and having a support system are useful tools in managing compassion fatigue. The bottom line, compassion fatigue affects different professions and is real.
References
Boyle, D. A. (2011). Countering Compassion Fatigue: A Requisite Nursing Agenda. Online
Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(1), 1
Coetzee, S., & Klopper, H. (2010). Compassion fatigue within nursing practice: a concept
analysis. Nursing & Health Sciences, 12(2), 235-24
Figley, C. (2013). Compassion fatigue: Coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those
who treat the traumatized. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
