Compassion Fatigue: The Relationship And Interaction

Compassion Fatigue
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Compassion fatigue presents itself as the gradual lessening of a person’s ability to show compassion while providing clinical care (Coe, 2010).The preoccupation with trauma experienced by patients and the emotional unease is associated with exposure to client suffering on a regular basis and it is further complicated by lacking support at work or at home (Harr, 2013). Nurses working in specialty practice areas such as intensive care, mental health, pediatrics and oncology have particularly high susceptibility to work induced stress including compassion fatigue and burnout (Sabo, 2011). Vulnerability is even higher in individuals that display high levels of empathy towards patients’ pain and suffering. Compassion fatigue stems from the relational connections that caregivers have with patients. The intensity depends on the level of interpersonal intensity and emotional engagement and it is characterized by feelings of emptiness and depletion (Boyle, 2011). It is very crucial for caregivers to have knowledge about compassion fatigue symptoms and how to cope accordingly.
There are some warning signs that caregivers require identifying as indicators of compassion fatigue. Some of the work related warning signs may include reluctance and dread of working with particular patients, the reduced ability to feel empathy towards patients and their families, working harder than usual, ignoring one’s personal needs, increased lateness, absenteeism and sick days as well as a lack of joyfulness (Lombardo, 2011). Compassion fatigue is obvious because they display little or no concern for patients. It occurs because of exhaustion of the emotional resources and decreased work satisfaction (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010).
Warning signs such as complaining, mood swings, depression, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, restlessness, memory loss, anger, self-medication with alcohol and other addictive behaviors may also indicate that one may be suffering from compassion fatigue (Boyle, 2011). The emotional warning signs may also be combined with a sense of hopelessness, sadness, worthlessness and hostility towards others. Some caregivers also isolate themselves preferring a withdrawn approach to the detriment of teamwork. They may also be extremely irritable, paranoid and constantly blow minor issues out of proportion (Bush, 2009). Physical warning signs of compassion fatigue include headaches, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances such as insomnia, nightmares and too much sleep. Some may experience fatigue, stomach upsets, and cardiac related symptoms such as palpitations (Lombardo, 2011).
Some caregivers experience greater vulnerability to compassion fatigue than others. For instance, caregivers with related personal problems or memories similar to those of their patients are more vulnerable to becoming deeply empathetic. They identify with patients’ problems and are unable to detach work stresses from their personal spheres. They also struggle to adopt a positive outlook and minimize stressful feelings. Caregivers working in end of life care centers also experience elevated levels of stress than other care centers because palliative care patients undergo extreme pain and have limited hope for healing. Their susceptibility to compassion fatigue is even higher when support from colleagues, supervisors and social networks is limited. It is imperative that such caregivers wrap up their day with a session where they can share how they spend their days hearing about death, discouragement and despair to decompress and care for themselves (Coe, 2010).
Compassionate caring has emotional implications that result from helping a suffering person and when prolonged, it can lead to emotional exhaustion. It often causes caregivers to avoid particular patients on purpose. Emotional exhaustion causes feelings of anxiety, fear, apathy, helplessness, and depression. It also results in irritability with patients and colleagues who may negatively affect the quality of care. Caregivers experience an overwhelming inability to leave grief issues at work and may end up waking up at night after dreaming about patients and the fear that they would die. It may also result into feelings of inadequacy and incompetency at work and anger towards close friends and spouses (Bush, 2009).
The overwhelming pressure also creates feelings of despair due to the inability to control cumulative losses. Caregivers develop compassion fatigue when their effort to achieve positive health outcomes in their patients fails. It causes them to feel guilty and to despair and emptiness. Extreme anxiety and nervousness also leads to physical problems such as constipation. Emotional exhaustion impairs their immune systems and results in physical other symptoms such as high blood pressure, anger, stiff neck, disrupted sleep. Compassion fatigue increases weariness that progresses to a loss of physical strength and endurance (Fetter, 2012).
Some individuals may also experience constant fatigue even after sleeping long enough. It is in recognition that the empathetic relationship between the caregiver and the patient contributes to fatigue when conscious effort to lessen its occurrence remains unexplored. Caregivers can seek regular assessment by a professional counselor or consultant to determine the necessary personalized interventions required. It is imperative that nurses establish a relationship with the self to succeed in managing compassion fatigue. To do so, they must be assertive in expressing their personal needs and achieve a work life balance.
Caregivers have needs that require replenishing through replenishing strategies to promote their physical emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Caregivers have a great need to elevate their belief in the divine power. Pastoral care to facilitate activities such as reminiscence, memorial services and in offering prayer, comfort and spiritual help during times of loss becomes very essential (Lombardo, 2011). Caregivers require spiritual reassurance about God’s role in healing patients and comfort when the patients die. They also require engaging in regular spiritual reflection to maintain sobriety.
Emotionally, caregivers experience a depletion of joy and their inability to derive pleasure from previously pleasurable activities. They also experience a slump in their ability to offer personalized care contributing to diminished kindness towards patients. Caregivers can attend to their physical needs through proper diet and nutrition, hydration, adequate sleep, and exercise. It would necessitate the quest for new approaches such as physical care such as massage and meditation to address the emotional needs.
It is essential for caregivers to establish a self-care plan in order to re-establish their calm state gather energy to nurture others. It may involve activities such as exercise, journaling, meditation and other pleasurable activities that enhance pacing and personal planning. It is also imperative to recognize other personal stressors such as child care demands, elderly parents’ care demands and marital disharmony and seek prompt counsel and support to minimize their transfer to the work setting (Boyle...