Compassion fatigue in nurses and influencing factors

Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2022 Oct;58(4):1691-1700. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12977. Epub 2021 Dec 9.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate compassion fatigue in nurses and the factors influencing the condition.

Design and methods: This descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional study was conducted in state and university hospitals in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. A purposive sampling method was used.

Findings: Almost all of the nurses have experienced low to moderate levels of compassion fatigue. Factors affecting the severity include age, years of seniority, service, marital status, children, and type of hospital.

Practice implications: Recommendations for reducing compassion fatigue are as follows: establishing clinical practice policies that reduce the development and possible consequences of compassion fatigue in addition to education and resilience training.

Keywords: compassion; compassion fatigue; nurse.

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional*
  • Child
  • Compassion Fatigue*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Empathy
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Nurses*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires