10.2 Self-Care for Nurses Flashcards
Compassion Fatigue
- Loss of satisfaction that comes from doing the job well or job related distress outweighs job satisfaction
- Inability to shut off our knowledge of caring may leave us emotionally saturated and raise our risk for compassion fatigue
- Overworking (over 40 hours a week)
- Boundaries
- Family (nurse may be concerned for a family members weight)
- Off Duty Treatment (in a public place)
- Friends (usually call nurses for help)
Managing Compassion Fatigue
Risks
- Nurses who skip breaks or come in on days off as a sense of duty
- Oncology, ER, or other areas where loss occurs frequently
- Nurses that form close caring relationships with patients
- Exposed to others traumatic stresses (secondary traumatic stress)
- Short staffing, long work hours, workplace incivility, feeling dismissed or invalidated
- GREATEST RISK IS NURSES WHO FORGO THEIR OWN SELFCARE
What Does Compassion Fatigue Feel Like
- First symptom is emotional (irritable or short tempered)
- Feeling bored of work or detached from patients/colleagues
- Feelings of failure to help a patient
- Losing sense of pride in being a nurse
Signs
- Forgetful at work
- Sleepless nights
Physical Symptoms
- Physically/mentally exhausted
- Headaches/backaches
- Queasy driving to work
Continued Compassion Fatigue
- Their performance changes
- Greater risk for medication errors
- Calling in sick more frequently
- Short tempered, sarcastic, or rude to patients/colleagues
- Tired and easily startled
- May attempt to reduce emotional saturation with alcohol.
Reducing your Risks
Set Boundaries
- Do favors because you want to, not because you feel you need to
- Tolerating workplace incivility
- Sharing personal information that is supposed o be private
Self Care should be a priority (take your breaks, exercise)
Reflect (bring physical and emotional feelings to the surface to address underlying causes of stress)
Value yourself as a nurse and a person
