Compassion Fatigue Among RNs Working in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Area of Science:

• Gerontological Nursing
• Nursing Professional Development

Background:

• Nurses in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) face significant risks of compassion fatigue.
• Compassion fatigue adversely affects patient outcomes and care quality, potentially causing nurses to leave the profession.
• Limited research exists on compassion fatigue specifically among SNF nurses in the United States.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and identify the shared meanings of compassion fatigue experienced by Registered Nurses (RNs) in SNF settings.
• To gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of nurses dealing with compassion fatigue.

Main Methods:

• Interpretive phenomenological study design.
• In-depth interviews with RNs providing care to residents in SNFs.

Main Results:

• Identified four shared meanings of compassion fatigue: feeling conflicted, experiencing physical and emotional manifestations, its pervasive impact on life, and coping strategies.
• Nurses expressed a strong desire to positively impact residents' lives.
• Three participants left SNF employment due to compassion fatigue.

Conclusions:

• Compassion fatigue is a significant issue for SNF nurses, affecting their personal and professional lives.
• Further research and targeted education are necessary to enhance knowledge, inform policy, and improve practices related to compassion fatigue in SNFs.
• Addressing compassion fatigue is vital for nurse retention and maintaining quality of care in gerontological settings.