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Compassion Fatigue

Joshua P. Jones

BYU- Idaho
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Compassion Fatigue

What Does Compassion Fatigue Mean?

Compassion fatigue is a widely discussed topic in the nursing community. In order to

understand what compassion fatigue is, compassion must first be defined. For the purpose of this

paper, compassion is defined as a response to human frailty that informs and motivates our

duties towards others that by its very nature creates a desire to act on behalf of others (Ledoux,

2015, p. 2044). In other words, compassion is the force that drives people to help those who are

in need of help. Now that compassion has been defined, a greater understanding of compassion

fatigue can be reached.

Compassion fatigue has been defined as loss of satisfaction that comes from doing ones

job well, or job-related distress that outweighs job satisfaction (Sheppard, 2016, p. 53). Many

health care providers may experience compassion fatigue during their careers. It is important to

note that compassion fatigue is different from burnout. Burnout results from the stresses of the

clinicians interactions with his or her environment. Compassion fatigue results more from the

relationship between clinician and patient (Gallagher, 2013, p. 265). These two concepts are not

exclusive to the health care field, however health care providers often deal closely with patients

and when these relationships are not fulfilling, these providers can be prone to experiencing

compassion fatigue instead of burnout.

What Are Some Ways Compassion Fatigue Can be Seen in Clinicians?

Compassion fatigue does not only effect the mental aspect of health care providers, but

can also be seen in some of the behaviors expressed by those struggling with this problem.

Gallagher (2013) relates these behaviors as similar to behaviors seen in individuals with

posttraumatic stress disorder (p. 266). Gallagher (2013) goes on to explain that these behaviors
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can include avoiding situations where patients are suffering, having thoughts or dreams related to

stressful situations, and even can manifest as physiological signs of stress (p. 266). Some of these

signs of stress, such as high blood pressure, can have a negative effect on an individuals overall

health if they persist over a long period of time.

Compassion fatigue can also manifest as emotional exhaustion (Ledoux, 2015, p.

2046). These signs may be harder to see. However, they can manifest as someone refusing to

become emotionally involved in a situation, or seen as an individuals lack of empathy. This lack

of emotional competency for a given situation can lead to a gap in efficient care. This is why it is

important to be aware of these signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, and address the

underlying issues before care is affected.

Strategies for Coping with Compassion Fatigue

There are many different strategies that can help health care professionals minimize the

effects of compassion fatigue. Reflecting on ones own experience of dealing with emotionally

draining circumstances, learning new skills, and finding meaning in this work seems to allow

clinicians to feel energized rather than drained by it (Gallagher, 2013, p. 266). Avoiding self-

criticism, focusing on the positive aspects of interactions, and getting sufficient amounts of sleep

can also help individuals cope with compassion fatigue (Sheppard, 2016, p. 55).

Lastly, educating at risk populations can help in minimizing the effects of compassion

fatigue. Identifying the problem early and addressing it at that time may help prevent more

serious cases of compassion fatigue later on. However it is important to note that compassion is

an important aspect of nursing care (Ledoux, 2015, p. 2047). Therefore nurses, as well as other

health care professionals, should not be taught to avoid feeling compassion towards others as a
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way to avoid compassion fatigue. Instead they should be taught to recognize the signs early and

some of the other coping mechanisms discussed above in order to minimize its effects.
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References

Gallagher, R. (2013). Compassion fatigue. Canadian Family Physician, 59(3), 265-268.

Retrieved from http://www.cfp.ca/content/59/3/265

Ledoux, K. (2015). Understanding compassion fatigue: Understanding compassion. Journal of

Advanced Nursing, 71(9), 2041-2050. Retrieved from

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.byui.idm.oclc.org/doi/10.1111/jan.12686/full

Sheppard, K. (2016). Compassion fatigue: Are you at risk?. American Nursing Today, 11(1), 53-

55. Retrieved from https://www.americannursetoday.com/compassion-fatigue/