In: Nursing
Compassion fatigue can lead to the following consequences:
Select all that apply:
a. Apathy among caregivers
b. Empathy for the ill person
c. Gastrointestinal complaints
d. Emotional outbursts
e. Sleep disturbances
f. Increased objectivity
g. Low quality of life
A - Apathy among caregivers
D - Emotional outbursts
E - Sleep disturbances
G - Low quality of life
Compassion Fatigue
The stress of working with populations in crisis can lead to compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, vicarious traumatization, and burnout in those offering aid to victims. Compassion fatigue describes the cumulative effects of working with traumatized individuals that contribute to the secondary traumatic stress of the caregiver. It is important to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue, which include cognitive, emotional, physical, spiritual, interpersonal, and behavioral reactions such as decreased level of concern and empathy for clients, decreased positive feeling for clients, physical and emotional exhaustion, increased levels of job dissatisfaction, and feelings of hopelessness related to the job. It is of the utmost importance to include mental health care in emergency plans and to recognize those signs of stress, fatigue, and burnout in emergency personnel as well as victims.