Caregiver Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Details:
Read the articles listed in the readings for this module and use them as a starting point for researching the topic of compassion fatigue, caregiver burnout, and related issues. Evaluate your sources to make sure they are academically sound and useful to your study. Compile concepts and resources to help yourself when facing burnout as you care for patients.
In 1,250-1500 words, summarize your findings. Be sure to include the following:
Identify the warning signs for at least five concepts of compassion fatigue.
Present the nature of the problems and their causes.
Explain the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the caregiver.
Finally, give examples of coping strategies and resources you can use to help you, the caregiver.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
Caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue:
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Workers, who concern with giving direct care to patients, are normally exposed to negativity and suffering on a daily basis. These workers encounter increasing demands in the place of work whereas at home they deal with their personal interest, family life and take care for their families including their aging parents (Portnoy, 2011). Burnout is a state of mental, emotional and physical exhaustion occurs as a result of long-term engagement in emotionally demanding situations. Burnout is normally accompanied by effects of negative and disillusionment feelings. Repeated exposure to patients' suffering can reduce the caregiver's trust in humanity and also lead to an increased sense of vulnerability. Research study reveals that burnouts among nurses negatively affects the quality of care for patients, leads to an increased absenteeism and minimizes moral and also causes financial impact on the health institution. Nurse turnover as an impact of stress has a financial impact on health organizations.
Professional caregivers including their employers should understand how to identify the signs of compassion fatigue and burnout since caregivers are at greater risk. Burnout symptoms at early stages include moodiness, reduced resiliency, often interpersonal conflicts, minimized sense of accomplishment, headaches, fatigue and frequent colds. Isabel, Ellen and Eric (2014) say that if burnout is not treated, it gradually turns into an advanced stage of indicating symptoms of irritability, underappreciated, social withdrawal, depersonalization, exhaustion, overworked and somatic complaints. Caregivers often are not aware of the negative impacts until they experience significant trauma or other health crises.
Compassion fatigue is a kind of burnout. According to Portnoy (2011), compassion fatigue arises abruptly with little warning and it is often more prevalent than burnout. An individual experiencing compassion fatigue often not only experience burnout symptoms, but also loss of hope and meaning, and feel reactions related to PTSD such as disturbing images of another horrible and traumatic materials, irritability, increased emotional numbing, easily startled, difficulty concentrating, and feeling strong anxiety. Previous trauma can be triggered. Long-term impacts are include hopelessness, minimized sense of control, diminished empathy, increased involvement in escapism, alcohol or drug use and chronic overeating.
A person can suffer both from compassion fatigue and burnout because they both overlap one another. They share certain symptoms and both lead to a financial effect on relationships and on health. Both have effects on workplace such as increased apathy, absenteeism, reduced motivation and low morale, although individuals experiencing compassion fatigue normally love their jobs. Empathy is what causes compassion fatigue. Barlow (2001) opines that compassion fatigue is a natural effect of stress that is caused as a result of assisting and taking care of suffering or traumatized individuals. It entails a preoccupation with a person or her or his trauma. It does not require being present at a stressful event; simply being exposed to a painful narrative or experience of another person is just enough. On the other hand, compassion fatigue is also thought to occur as an effect of the concurrence of cumulative stress, secondary traumatic stress and primary stress in the lives of care providers and other helping professionals.
It is important for helping professionals to develop early recognition and enhance self-care within and outside the workplace as these are the key for developing wellness. Portnoy (2011) presents that many caregivers often concentrate majorly on caring others, but do not consider taking care of their own well-being. It is vital for them to renew themselves and dedicate to develop a life outside work, which involve daily nurturing activities. Many caregivers normally comprehend this concept intellectually, though the knowledge does not essentially lead to creating a better care of themselves. Compassion fatigue is often caused by patient care situations, and these ar...