Compassion fatigue and COVID‐19: A global view from nurses

Abstract

Background Due to the rapid spread of COVID‐19 variants, the number of people hospitalized for COVID‐19 may create psychological burdens on nurses. Nurses with high levels of compassion fatigue (CF) are more likely to make work errors, deliver poor‐quality care, and have greater intent to leave their position. Objectives This study utilized the social‐ecological model to examine factors associated with nurses' CF and compassion satisfaction (CS) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods Data were collected from the United States, Japan, and South Korea from July to December 2020. The Professional Quality of Life Scale was used to measure burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and CS. Results Data from 662 responses were used in the analysis. Mean scores were 25.04 (±6.44) for BO, 24.81 (±6.43) for STS, and 37.85 (±7.67) for CS. Multiple regression analyses indicated that resilience and intention to leave nursing were related to each study outcome (i.e., BO, STS, and CS). Greater resilience predicted lower BO and STS but greater CS, whereas intention to leave nursing indicated greater BO and STS, but lower CS. Furthermore, intrapersonal factors and organizational factors (i.e., nurses involved in developing policies to prepare for COVID‐19 patients, organizational support, and personal protective equipment [PPE] provisions) were related to BO, STS, and CS. Linking Evidence to Practice To promote nurses' psychological well‐being, improvement of organizational factors such as support, PPE, and programs to enhance resilience is recommended to prepare for future emerging infectious disease crises.

What is our “Lane” as nurses?

“…Listening to nurses' ideas and nurses' participation in how delivery of care will be accomplished does make a difference. When we listen to other nurses and support their ability to provide the best level of care, this encourages nurses to stay in nursing and at the bedside (Jo et al, 2023). We need to stand up for each other and for our patients at the individual, family, community, and population levels.…”

“…Recent research continues to find greater nurse resilience is associated with less nurse burn-out and intent to leave nursing (Jo et al, 2021(Jo et al, , 2023. What is associated with greater nursing…”

Clinical nurses’ compassion fatigue psychological experience process: a constructivist grounded theory study

“…The conceptual structure of compassion fatigue proposed by Figley includes burnout and secondary traumatic stress [ 11 ], they both combine to raise the risk of compassion fatigue [ 12 ]. Compassion fatigue symptoms include headaches, insomnia, poor self-esteem, depression, tardiness at work, avoidance of work, and frequent sick leave [ 13 ]. Consequently, compassion fatigue can result in high turnover rates of nurses, decreased concentration and productivity, and even increased medication errors which ultimately affect patient satisfaction and safety [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Developing Nurses and Interdisciplinary Teams in Caring Science

“…7 Among a multinational cohort of nurses and nurse managers surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic, compassion satisfaction was positively associated with engagement in organizational activities. 8 Furthermore, an interdependent relationship exists between nurse engagement and quality, safety, and care experience as an organizational necessity. 9 Reductions in compassion fatigue, burnout, and turnover are linked to improved teamwork, patient experience, and organizational outcomes, 10 which suggest that aspects of nurse work impact compassion satisfaction and nurses' ability to maintain caring relationships and well-being.…”

“…Registered nurses are ethically mandated to care for themselves as they care for patients, 6 and the Committee on the Future of Nursing (2020-2030) affirmed that the health and well-being of nurses affect quality, safety, and cost of the care provided 7 . Among a multinational cohort of nurses and nurse managers surveyed during the COVID-19 pandemic, compassion satisfaction was positively associated with engagement in organizational activities 8 . Furthermore, an interdependent relationship exists between nurse engagement and quality, safety, and care experience as an organizational necessity 9 .…”