Healthcare workers are truly heroes, working diligently to improve the lives of their patients. However, as rewarding as a career in healthcare can be, it comes with its challenges. Healthcare workers, especially in specific niches such as oncology, may experience compassion fatigue from emotionally challenging situations with patients and their families. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of compassion fatigue, its causes and symptoms, and how you can help combat its effects.

RecognizingandAddressingCompassionFatigueinHealthcareProfessionals

What Is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion fatigue can be considered the “cost of caring” in its simplest form. Compassion fatigue can cause emotional and physical distress after a healthcare worker feels the pain of patients or their families. By helping others and being on the front lines, healthcare workers are susceptible to compassion fatigue. Many healthcare workers enter the field initially because they are compassionate, leaving them even more vulnerable to compassion fatigue.

Unlike burnout, compassion fatigue can come on suddenly. Burnout is similar to compassion fatigue but refers to a long-term response to prolonged stress in the workplace. Compassion fatigue is sometimes called vicarious or secondary trauma, meaning that the healthcare professional takes on the effects of trauma of the patient or patient’s family as their own.

Compassion fatigue can affect a person’s well-being, making it difficult to focus on work or activities outside of work. The emotional effects can then affect a person’s personal life and relationships as well. Triggers and causes for compassion fatigue depend on the type of healthcare role and setting, but some examples of triggers include:

Providers who work with patients with depression
Verbal or physical abuse from patients
Repeated exposure to death/bereavement
Overworked healthcare professionals
Those who work in trauma settings

Working in a value-based care setting puts greater emphasis on the quality of care provided, which can help combat compassion fatigue for healthcare workers.

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue presents differently in every person, and some may be more affected than others. Since symptoms vary quite a bit, it is not always easy to recognize that compassion fatigue may be an issue. Some symptoms of compassion fatigue might include:

Irritability or anger
Mood swings
Lack of self-care
Lack of productivity
Sadness
Trouble concentrating
Poor sleep or nightmares
Isolation
Substance abuse

Mitigating Compassion Fatigue

Although compassion fatigue is a problem among healthcare professionals, it is not inevitable. Recognizing the signs of compassion fatigue early can help you implement coping mechanisms and strategies to mitigate the effects. At ChenMed, we operate on a value-based care model, which helps address compassion fatigue in healthcare professionals as opposed to operating on a fee-for-service basis.

Some ways you can mitigate compassion fatigue include:

Focusing on a self-care routine that includes a well-rounded diet, consistent sleep schedule, exercise, etc.
Strategically take short breaks and time to yourself
Find support in others via social connections and support groups
Set boundaries at work/when working with patients
Practice mindfulness and meditation techniques
Find time to connect with loved ones/friends
Try breathing techniques when anxious or stressed

How Healthcare Organizations Can Help

Both healthcare workers and organizations play vital roles in recognizing and addressing compassion fatigue. Healthcare organizations can help by raising awareness so employees know the signs of compassion fatigue. In addition, creating and implementing wellness initiatives can also help support employees’ self-care routines. It’s a team effort to promote resilience and fight against compassion fatigue in the workforce.

If you’re looking to be part of something bigger and want to stay up-to-date with the latest job openings at ChenMed, sign up for our Talent Community. Want to learn more about what life is like at ChenMed? Click here to dive in.