Combatting Compassion Fatigue
Hi, Pls read assignment details and create assignment based on the article. I will attach articles in my next emails. 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.
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Demonstrates integrative comprehension and thoughtful application of concepts surrounding health care provider compassion fatigue and circumstances involving application in real-world situations. Presentation of material and components include expanded and unique ideas for combating compassion fatigue . |
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Coverage extends beyond what is needed to support subject matter. |
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Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive. The essence of the paper is contained within the thesis. Thesis and/or main claim statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. |
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Clear and convincing argument presents a persuasive thesis and/or main claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative. |
Combatting Compassion Fatigue
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Professionals in health care are most susceptible to compassion fatigue because their work involves support and care to patients on a continuous basis. They encounter patients’ suffering from the effects of life threatening conditions, traumatic experiences and grief. They require to not only deal with the ordinary work related distress but also the emotional and personal sentiments emanating from exposure to clients’ suffering (Day & Anderson, 2011). Many definitions of compassion fatigue exist and common to all are the aspects of emotional devastation and overly engrossing which results numbness. Another aspect is an impaired ability to function effectively which occurs as a result repeated exposure and memories of people that are suffering (Bush, Compassion Fatigue: Are You at Risk?, 2009). It occurs in a process that begins when the caregiver responds to the recipients’ anguish and experiences an inability to separate from giving care simultaneously. The experience is also characterized by dissatisfaction with the care situation resulting in stress, which culminates into compassion fatigue after prolonged exposure (Yoder, 2010). Manifestation of compassion fatigue is characterized by both emotions and responses following exposure to people that are suffering.
Some of the indicators of brewing compassion fatigue may include feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, apathy and disengagement with the patients (Day & Anderson, 2011). Others may include a protracted physical fatigue and job dissatisfaction. Caregivers report experiencing general feelings of hopelessness and a change their perception of work from a profession to a job. They sense being overburdened, lacking in support and unrecognized for the physically and emotionally draining contribution in their work place. They also feel helpless in the sense that their added effort to save the overwhelming suffering situations for their clients and other areas of their lives yield no positive outcomes. They may become distant, depressed, irritable, attempt to give more care to clients, become unable to compartmentalize work and strike a balance between work life and other areas of life, experience nightmares and neglect other important daily activities such as exercise, reduced self-efficacy at work and persistent anger directed to close people (Bush, 2009).
Apathy is also another warning sign of brewing compassion fatigue. It is a situation where the caregiver’s interest in caring for the patient diminishes. By this time, a caregiver has utilized all the emotional resources available. Caregivers perceive themselves as unable to offer any more to the suffering client before succumbing into a state of apathy and they may even consider themselves incompetent (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010). Another warning sign is whereby a caregiver may begin to experience negative feelings such as embarrassment and disgust triggering stigma of the patient. This eventually culminates in emotional detachment from the patient as a result of the numbed emotions (Day & Anderson, 2011). Being continuously tired with pains in the back, headaches, insomnia, and digestion problems are manifestations of being physically fatigued. Caregivers may also resort to being persistently absent from work and chronic application for sick leave as warning signs of compassion fatigue (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010).
Compassion fatigue is commonly associated with the desire to give more care to those that are suffering with little or no improvements. This results in the caregivers feeling guilty for not delivering on their goals to improve health outcomes for their patients. Caregivers develop interpersonal trusting relations with patients that expect them to improve their situations and when they are persistently unable to bring about the expected improvements, it results into internal emptiness, feelings of incompetence and distress (Boyle, 2011).
With protracted exposure to a suffering client, past history of similar fatal situations involving close persons and quick unexpected deterioration in health in patients are some of the factors that predispose caregivers to compassion fatigue. The caregivers are unable to d...