Compassion Fatigue hos sjuksköterskor : En allmän litteraturöversikt

Sammanfattning: Background: Compassion Fatigue is described as a negative effect of caring and can be difficult to identify without having previous knowledge about the phenomena. Research shows that being exposed to other persons suffering and not being able to take distance from it, increases the risk of developing Compassion Fatigue. Problem: Nurses often works in an environment with high workload and suffering. In their work, nurses engage in patients suffering and are at greater risk for Compassion Fatigue. Aim: The purpose was to describe nurse’s experiences of Compassion Fatigue. Method: A general literature review was conducted and the analysis contained five quantitative articles, four qualitative and two with mixed method. Result: Caring for patients whose condition is getting worse showed to be central in the development of Compassion Fatigue. Working in oncology and palliative care units contributed to higher exposure and a sense of inadequacy appeared when the nurses did not see any way to help the patients to recovery. Stress and not being able to make distance between work life and private life also led to the development of Compassion Fatigue. Conclusions: Compassion Fatigue occurs in caring professions and contributes to both physical and psychological effects. Nurses and employers may therefore need more knowledge about Compassion Fatigue to apply adequate interventions and decrease the risk of developing Compassion Fatigue.