Compassion fatigue...how do you deal?

Nurses Stress 101

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I love my job but I work with an extremely difficult demographic. Lot of comorbidities, mental health issues, drug addictions.

What do you do to combat compassion fatigue when you feel like you just don't have anything more to give?

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

When I find myself beginning to get impatient and think poorly about patients, I take a few weeks off and decompress.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Personally for me, this is why I love to float, the prospect of not having the same patients for three shifts in a row or being on the same floor every shift helps my sanity! :yes:

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i work at downtown area at large metro, so we get big number of crap demographics, you know the indigent and poor (don't mind about this part) but entitled, ignoramus, non-complaint yet wanting magic pills, welfare/disability-abusing roaches.

i basically summed up that i am eventually going to work at facilities that serve areas with higher socioeconomics and better education. from my own 2 yrs and accounts from numerous other experienced nurses, socioecnomics and education have been the biggest factors in how patients behave, interact, and perform in reasonable human-like thought processes. yes there are exceptions, yes yes yes blah blah, but it's just that. very few exceptions. go to better loc.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I limit the people in my personal life to those who bring a positive influence. We all only have so much to give. The time wasters/ energy suckers (we've all encountered them)....those relationships end fast.

I'm also realistic about my role. I'm not there to change or cure someone. My role involves helping that person reach their goals, which are often very different from nursing.

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Since I cannot afford to take weeks off from work. I usually just make my days off really count. I do what I enjoy and surround myself around family and friends. Do what ever makes you relaxed and happy so thay you can come to work refreshed. Even if you just have no more compassion to give , that is ok. Do your job, clock out and leave. Sometimes we go through these phases as nurses and there is really nothing else we can do.

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It's important to take good care of yourself and keep yourself healthy (mentally as well as physically) outside of work, and have strong, clear boundaries.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Lots of long walks in the woods away from all humans!

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I think the trick is learning what your limits are. I have a pretty high tolerance of abuse, and a lot of nursing is just that. I guess it does not sound good, but it is true, we get verbal abuse from MD, from pts, and sometimes from their families. Next add in the actual care that is required to help the patient achieve their wellness goals and that is a pretty high tab. Nursing is mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting. You most likely feel like you have been sucked dry every time you finish a shift. The only way to really counter this sensation is to be good to yourself. The above posts addressed things such as surround yourself by good friends and family, don't let these suck you dry as well. Spend time doing things you like, I am a creative person, so doing creative things really helps me(craft things, photography, music etc.) Having a sounding board helps, someone else who is a nurse and understands where you are coming from. Sometimes it takes a relocation of employment. I have done this when I have felt that I have given all that I possibly could to a facility and there was no longer any growth for me. That has not always resulted in a positive outcome for my career, but at the time it was a good decision for my personal well-being. Some daily methods you may try are meditation, imagry, relaxation type exercises that really help lower the stress levels and keep you in perspective of what is really important to you. Surround yourself by what makes you happy.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I hate to say it but, during my shifts I remind myself at the end of the day, it's just a job. I do the very best I can, I am polite and respectful. But I refuse to let these people railroad me and run me dry (that includes patients, their families, and coworkers). At the end of the shift I am physically tired, but emotionally I am fine and I walk away from the building with work behind me.

I am also part-time, so I can work as much as I want, but if I need to scale back a few shifts to have more free time I can do that as well.

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

In my opinion, you have to laugh at it. Laughing at the absurdity of some of the situations we find ourselves in makes it bearable. Just my two cents for whatever it is worth.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Forgive yourself.

Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly cranky with a given resident, I'll deliberately try to imagine what it's like to live in that person's head. Doesn't necessarily trigger a resurgence of compassion, but somehow it does allow me to step back a bit and keep it professional.

In my opinion, compassion - like any other emotion - cannot be created where it doesn't exist. Nor is it necessary to do your job well.

So ... forgive yourself ... and consider the advice given by previous posters on self-renewal.

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