A Tool to Help Heath Care Professionals Cope
A Tool to Help Heath Care Professionals Cope
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion Fatigue

What is Compassion Fatigue?
Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue. This used to be labeled as burnout and is a deep physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, which can include feeling actual pain. Caregivers such as nurses and physicians as well as families may become less empathetic and unable to give their all to their patients. Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms is the first step towards combatting this problem.
Some Key Points * Compassion fatigue is a form of burnout that manifests itself as physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion * To prevent or recover from compassion fatigue, take time for self-reflection, identify what's important and live in a way that reflects it * To sustain yourself at work, develop “principles of practice” — guidelines of personal integrity that articulate the parameters of your personal values. Commit to live and work within these principles.
What is Compassion Fatigue?
Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue. This used to be labeled as burnout and is a deep physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, which can include feeling actual pain. Caregivers such as nurses and physicians as well as families may become less empathetic and unable to give their all to their patients. Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms is the first step towards combatting this problem.
Some Key Points * Compassion fatigue is a form of burnout that manifests itself as physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion * To prevent or recover from compassion fatigue, take time for self-reflection, identify what's important and live in a way that reflects it * To sustain yourself at work, develop “principles of practice” — guidelines of personal integrity that articulate the parameters of your personal values. Commit to live and work within these principles.
Studies confirm that nurses and other health care providers are placed under incredible emotional and physical strain due to the demands of their professions. Compassion Fatigue symptoms are normal displays of chronic stress resulting from the care giving work we choose to do.
Studies confirm that nurses and other health care providers are placed under incredible emotional and physical strain due to the demands of their professions. Compassion Fatigue symptoms are normal displays of chronic stress resulting from the care giving work we choose to do.

Being able to take care of patients and families requires that we take care of ourselves first. A strong identification with helpless, suffering, or traumatized people or animals is possibly the motive. “It is common for such people to hail from a tradition of what Gentry labels: other-directed care giving. Simply put, these are people who were taught at an early age to care for the needs of others before caring for their own needs. Authentic, ongoing self-care practices are absent from their lives”, (compassionfatigue.org). The day-in-and-day-out caring of our patients, our parent, spouses and children can cause the caregivers to neglect themselves. This can lead to negative thoughts and feelings that may be brought upon those we care for. It is our nature to put others before ourselves. We neglect our nutrition, our break times at work, exercise, quality time with loved ones, vacations and most importantly, our sleep. While we try to fit work and play into every day, more often than not, we are beleaguered by emotional and physical exhaustion. A study of 22 Hospices revealed that 78% of those nurses were at moderate to high risk of compassion fatigue, while 26% were in the high-risk category, (Abendroth & Flannery, 2006). Trauma, anxiety and excessive empathy were the determinants of this study and some of the causes of this type of burn-out. This fatigue leads to depression, exhaustion and inefficient work habits as well as a disconnect from our patients.
Being able to take care of patients and families requires that we take care of ourselves first. A strong identification with helpless, suffering, or traumatized people or animals is possibly the motive. “It is common for such people to hail from a tradition of what Gentry labels: other-directed care giving. Simply put, these are people who were taught at an early age to care for the needs of others before caring for their own needs. Authentic, ongoing self-care practices are absent from their lives”, (compassionfatigue.org). The day-in-and-day-out caring of our patients, our parent, spouses and children can cause the caregivers to neglect themselves. This can lead to negative thoughts and feelings that may be brought upon those we care for. It is our nature to put others before ourselves. We neglect our nutrition, our break times at work, exercise, quality time with loved ones, vacations and most importantly, our sleep. While we try to fit work and play into every day, more often than not, we are beleaguered by emotional and physical exhaustion. A study of 22 Hospices revealed that 78% of those nurses were at moderate to high risk of compassion fatigue, while 26% were in the high-risk category, (Abendroth & Flannery, 2006). Trauma, anxiety and excessive empathy were the determinants of this study and some of the causes of this type of burn-out. This fatigue leads to depression, exhaustion and inefficient work habits as well as a disconnect from our patients.
What Causes Compassion Fatigue?
What Causes Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion Fatigue not only leaves us physical, emotionally and spiritually drained; it can impact the work environment, which creates additional stress on co-workers as well. In addition to apathy, illness and perhaps a loss of compassion for our patients, it creates problems for the organization such as:

* High absenteeism * Changes in co-worker relations * Outbreaks of aggressive behaviors among staff * Inability to complete assignments * Lack of flexibility * Negativism towards management * Strong reluctance to change * Lack of a vision for the future *
Compassion Fatigue not only leaves us physical, emotionally and spiritually drained; it can impact the work environment, which creates additional stress on co-workers as well. In addition to apathy, illness and perhaps a loss of compassion for our patients, it creates problems for the organization such as:

* High absenteeism * Changes in co-worker relations * Outbreaks of aggressive behaviors among staff * Inability to complete assignments * Lack of flexibility * Negativism towards management * Strong reluctance to change * Lack of a vision for the future *
Signs of Compassion Fatigue * Excessive blaming * Bottled up emotions * Isolation from others * Complaints from others * Excessive complaints about administrative functions * Substance abuse * Compulsive behaviors such as overeating, overspending, gambling or sexual addictions * Poor self-care (hygiene, appearance * Chronic physical illness such as frequent colds or gastric problems * Sad, apathetic, no longer finds joy in any activities * Difficulty concentrating * Mentally, physically and spiritually drained * Preoccupied * In denial about problems
(compassionfatigue.org)
Signs of Compassion Fatigue * Excessive blaming * Bottled up emotions * Isolation from others * Complaints from others * Excessive complaints about administrative functions * Substance abuse * Compulsive behaviors such as overeating, overspending, gambling or sexual addictions * Poor self-care (hygiene, appearance * Chronic physical illness such as frequent colds or gastric problems * Sad, apathetic, no longer finds joy in any activities * Difficulty concentrating * Mentally, physically and spiritually drained * Preoccupied * In denial about problems
(compassionfatigue.org)

If you answered “YES” to 4 or more questions, you may be suffering from Compassion Fatigue. For a more comprehensive survey, go to www.cpp-db.com.
Compassion Fatigue takes its toll on our colleagues, patients and personal relationships as well as our selves. Lack of time is our enemy as we try to accomplish multiple tasks such as eating and charting, answering phone call during breaks, or not taking breaks at all. The following are suggestions for reducing Compassion Fatigue: * Know that this is normal and find someone to talk to * Eat properly and exercise * Take time off if possible * Get enough sleep * Take time to go to church, talk to a spiritual leader, meditate, etc… * Perform activities that are important to you * Find interests other than medicine * Ask yourself what gives your life joy and meaning * Identify your values and find priorities
Do NOT:
Blame others, look for a new job, get a divorce or have an affair, self-medicate, work harder or longer, neglect yourself, your interests or your spiritual needs
If you answered “YES” to 4 or more questions, you may be suffering from Compassion Fatigue. For a more comprehensive survey, go to www.cpp-db.com.
Compassion Fatigue takes its toll on our colleagues, patients and personal relationships as well as our selves. Lack of time is our enemy as we try to accomplish multiple tasks such as eating and charting, answering phone call during breaks, or not taking breaks at all. The following are suggestions for reducing Compassion Fatigue: * Know that this is normal and find someone to talk to * Eat properly and exercise * Take time off if possible * Get enough sleep * Take time to go to church, talk to a spiritual leader, meditate, etc… * Perform activities that are important to you * Find interests other than medicine * Ask yourself what gives your life joy and meaning * Identify your values and find priorities
Do NOT:
Blame others, look for a new job, get a divorce or have an affair, self-medicate, work harder or longer, neglect yourself, your interests or your spiritual needs Personal concerns commonly intrude on my professional role. | | | | | | No | My colleagues seem to lack understanding. | | | | | | No | I find even small changes enormously draining. | | | | | | No | I can't seem to recover quickly after association with trauma. | | | | | | No | Association with trauma affects me very deeply. | | | | | | No | My patients' stress affects me deeply. | | | | | | No | I have lost my sense of hopefulness. | | | | | | No | I feel vulnerable all the time. (www.aafp.org) | | | | | | No | I feel overwhelmed by unfinished personal business. | | | | | | No |

Personal concerns commonly intrude on my professional role. | | | | | | No | My colleagues seem to lack understanding. | | | | | | No | I find even small changes enormously draining. | | | | | | No | I can't seem to recover quickly after association with trauma. | | | | | | No | Association with trauma affects me very deeply. | | | | | | No | My patients' stress affects me deeply. | | | | | | No | I have lost my sense of hopefulness. | | | | | | No | I feel vulnerable all the time. (www.aafp.org) | | | | | | No | I feel overwhelmed by unfinished personal business. | | | | | | No |

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

YES NO

Are YOU Burned Out?
Are YOU Burned Out?

Shanlyn Jonas
HLT 310V
September 15, 2011
Shanlyn Jonas
HLT 310V
September 15, 2011
References

Abendroth, M. & Flannery, J. (2006). Predicting the risk of compassion fatigue. Journal of Palliative and Hospice Nursing, 8(6), 346-348.

NA, (2010). Compassion fatigue project. Retrieved from www.compassionfatigue.org

Pfifferling, J. & Gilley, K. (2000, April 7). Overcoming compassion fatigue. Retrieved from www.aafb.org

References

Abendroth, M. & Flannery, J. (2006). Predicting the risk of compassion fatigue. Journal of Palliative and Hospice Nursing, 8(6), 346-348.

NA, (2010). Compassion fatigue project. Retrieved from www.compassionfatigue.org

Pfifferling, J. & Gilley, K. (2000, April 7). Overcoming compassion fatigue. Retrieved from www.aafb.org

* Center for Professional Well-Being- www.pwb.org * Professional Renewal Center- www.prckansas.org * Institute for the Study of Health and Illness' Detoxifying Death workshop series- http://ishiprograms.org * American Academy of Family Physicians- www.aafp.org * Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project- www.compassionfatigue.org
Other Resources: * Your company’s Human Resource Office or Employee Health For CHW Employees this is the Employee Assistance Program- 1-800-324-4327 * Your pastor, clergy person, church nurse or spiritual advisor * Any counselor or psychiatric professional or support group specializing in Compassion Fatigue * Online blogs * Center for Professional Well-Being- www.pwb.org * Professional Renewal Center- www.prckansas.org * Institute for the Study of Health and Illness' Detoxifying Death workshop series- http://ishiprograms.org * American Academy of Family Physicians- www.aafp.org * Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project- www.compassionfatigue.org
Other Resources: * Your company’s Human Resource Office or Employee Health For CHW Employees this is the Employee Assistance Program- 1-800-324-4327 * Your pastor, clergy person, church nurse or spiritual advisor * Any counselor or psychiatric professional or support group specializing in Compassion Fatigue * Online blogs
If You Need Help:
If You Need Help: