Critical Care Nurses' Traumatic Experiences and Compassion Fatigue: The Mediating Roles of Professional Self-Efficacy...

Critical care nurses (CCNs) are in the frontline of providing quality care to critically ill patients. Consequently, they are constantly exposed to stress, trauma and compassion fatigue. However, nursing literature is scarce in reporting the connections between vicarious trauma (VT), secondary traumatic stress (STS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compassion fatigue (CF), professional self-efficacy (PSE) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among CCNs.

To examine the interrelationships of VT, STS, PTSD, CF, PSE and PTG among CCNs.

A cross-sectional and correlational design. CCNs (n = 264) in Saudi Arabia were recruited via consecutive sampling from October to December 2024 and completed a questionnaire with six validated self-report scales. Covariance-based structural equation modelling was used to analyse the interrelationships of study variables.

STS had significant, direct positive effects on PSE (β = 0.20, p = 0.003), PTSD (β = 0.24, p = 0.002), and PTG (β = 0.39, p = 0.002). PSE had a significant, indirect effect on PTSD (β = -0.43, p = 0.003). VT had significant, direct positive effects on PTG (β = 0.30, p = 0.019) and CF (β = 0.10, p = 0.019). PTSD had significant, direct positive effects on PTG (β = 0.21, p = 0.002) and CF (β = 0.68, p = 0.003). PTG had significant, direct negative effects on CF (β = -0.68, p = 0.003). PSE mediated the impact of STS on PTSD (β = 0.24, p = 0.002). Finally, PTG mediated between VT and CF (β = 0.15, p = 0.001).

Our findings demonstrated the mediating roles of PSE and PTG between the associations of STS, PTSD, VT and CF, thus reducing the impacts of STS and VT on PTSD and CF.

Healthcare institutions and nurse managers may leverage on the protective effects of PSE and PTG. They may devise and implement programs that strengthen PSE and PTG because they prevent or minimise CCNs' traumatic experiences.