Compassion in Balance: A Cross-Sectional Study on Satisfaction and Fatigue Among Clinical Nurses at HMC

Nursing is a profoundly rewarding yet emotionally demanding profession. Clinical nurses often experience a delicate balance between compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF), which can significantly impact their well-being and patient care. The study aims to investigate the levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among clinical nurses at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and to find out the association between various demographic characteristics and these outcomes.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 clinical nurses at HMC, Doha, Qatar, between May 2023 and September 2023. Convenience sampling was used. Data was collected using a demographic survey and the Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 (ProQOL 5). Data analysis was conducted using STATA 17.0, applying both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Associations between the variables were explored using one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient tests.

Among the 219 participants, the majority reported average levels of Compassion Satisfaction (CS) (n = 205; 93.6%), Burnout (BO) (n = 209; 95.4%), and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) (n = 167; 76.3%). Statistically significant associations were found between compassion satisfaction and nationality (p < 0.001), job designation (p = 0.006), and burnout and job designation (p = 0.007). Additionally, a moderate positive correlation was identified between burnout and secondary traumatic stress (r = 0.5249, p < 0.001).

The majority of nurses reported average levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, with significant associations observed across selected demographic and professional variables and a moderate positive correlation between burnout and secondary traumatic stress. These findings emphasize the value of professional quality of life assessment in guiding evidence-informed strategies to support nurse well-being and sustain quality patient care.