Is Your Compassion Complete? - 2/21

A message to our Critical Care Nurses

Did you know that nurses have ranked the most honest and ethical profession for the 19th consecutive year in a row?! Unfortunately, despite these acknowledgements, we are still experiencing a nursing shortage, especially in the critical care unit. Working in an often-stressful environment such as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) increases the risk of emotional instability of ICU medical staff. As a result, the quality of care for ICU patients and their relatives are potentially threatened by long-term absenteeism, and nursing skill decline caused by healthcare professionals leaving their jobs prematurely. Even more detrimental, the COVID pandemic has made these shortages more pronounced, leading to work overload, time pressures, long hours, risk of exposure to infection, sleep deprivation, and understaffing.

Although, all nurses are at risk for compassion fatigue, ICU professionals on the front-line experience many workplace stressors such as increased admissions, quick deterioration of patient’s physical status, patient’s dying without family members at the bedside, and fears of having to care for patients while the unit is understaffed. 

Yes, you’ve read correctly. You are at risk of compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion resulting in the decreased ability to empathize. It is caused by traumatic stress that occurs because of helping or wanting to help those who are in need. If left untreated, compassion fatigue can affect mental and physical health, which could lead to nurse burnout. I know what you’re thinking, how can something you are passionate about cause you so much harm? Some nurses are at even higher risks depending on their coping strategies or work routines. Nurses who have an inability to maintain personal or professional boundaries and nurses who sacrifice self-care are at higher risk for compassion fatigue. If this doesn’t describe you just yet, keep reading. Nurses who skip breaks, take extra shifts, or come in on their days off out of a sense of duty are at higher risk for compassion fatigue. Is it hitting home yet?

Don’t panic! This can be prevented. Prevention of compassion fatigue is achieved through professional boundaries, self-care measures, self-awareness, and education on the concept at the individual and organizational level. The first step to promoting well-being is to recognize what we can control. We control how we think and what are next actions are. Control your thoughts by first learning the symptoms of compassion fatigue and nurse burnout so that you can easily recognize them. Examine your personal definition of wellbeing and your current routine used to promote wellbeing. Are there any gaps in your current routine?

Nursing is a balancing act in all aspects. It’s imperative for all of us to find a life balance. We must be able to listen to patients and feel for them without being affected to the point where it influences us personally. Having empathy for the tragedies and misfortunes patients and their families experience can help us do our job well, but we must learn how to avoid bringing those experiences home. Keeping our personal life and professional life separate and maintaining this balance can go a long way toward helping us starve off the effects of compassion fatigue. This balancing act should extend outside of the workplace by practicing self-care activities such as regular exercise, a routine schedule of restful sleep, outside hobbies and activities, honoring emotional needs and maybe even journaling. 

In addition, develop strong relationships with coworkers and implement self-care activities while at work. Consider keeping a water bottle in the breakroom or in the hydration station. Focus on extending your spine each time you walk to your next task. Take a 1-minute stretch break whenever you can. When feeling stressed, inhale for 5 seconds and exhale for 5 seconds to lower your stress. When you are feeling overwhelmed with a problem, try dividing the problem into smaller possible tasks or simply ask for help. Promote a healthy work environment by ensuring that colleagues have break buddies so that we are all able to take breaks. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”-Buddha

Inecia Stewart, MSN, CCRN, RN-BC

References:

Altman, M., Delgado, S., The Importance of Nurse Well-being and How to achieve it. Critical Care Nurse. 2021 Oct:41(5):69-71.doi:https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2021319.

Dimino, K, Learmonth, A.E, Fajardo, C.C, Nurse Managers Leading the Way: Reenvisioning Stress to Maintain Healthy Work Environments. Critical Care Nurse. 2021 Oct:41(5):52-58. doi:https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2021463

Peters, E. Compassion fatigue in nursing: A concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2018 Oct;53(4):466-480. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12274. Epub 2018 Jul 2. PMID: 29962010.

van Mol, M. M., Kompanje, E. J., Benoit, D. D., Bakker, J., & Nijkamp, M. D. (2015). The Prevalence of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout among Healthcare Professionals in Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review. PloS one, 10(8), e0136955. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136955