Extent of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout in nursing: A meta-analysis

Behind the care: emotional struggles, burnout, and denial in kazakhstan's professional palliative care workforce

BACKGROUND

This exploratory study investigates the emotional impact of palliative care provision among healthcare professionals in resource-limited settings, specifically in Kazakhstan. As a middle-income country with a growing burden of chronic diseases, the palliative care sector in Kazakhstan faces increasing challenges to address burnout.

METHODS

Due to limited existing knowledge, an exploratory design was adopted, employing grounded theory approach to discover professionals' understanding of their experiences, emotional stressors, and burnout development. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 60 palliative care professionals (41 nurses, 19 physicians) from 4 hospices, 2 PCUs of cancer centers, and 1 nursing department from diverse geographical locations within Kazakhstan. The data collection phase was carried out between May 2021 and July 2022. Analysis focused on identifying stressors leading to burnout and coping mechanisms used by palliative care professionals.

RESULTS

The study identifies key stressors, including emotional involvement with patients, communication challenges with relatives, witnessing patient frailty and death, lack of personal accomplishment, and emotional labor. A unique finding is the widespread denial of emotional impact among participants, expressed through normalization of work-related stress and suppression of emotions. Through analysis, four key themes were identified as central to the findings: (1) stressors contributing to burnout, (2) denial of emotional impact, (3) coping mechanisms, and (4) attitudes towards seeking psychological help.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study has revealed that the denial of emotional impact, along with the downplaying or dismissal of the impact of stress, is a recurring pattern among healthcare workers providing palliative care to terminally ill patients in Kazakhstan. The findings of this study underscore the need for tailored training to address the specific emotional needs of palliative care workers, focusing on effective communication, techniques for emotional regulation, stress management, and self-care practices to help professionals cope with the emotional demands of their work.

Comfort in Providing Care and Associations With Attitudes Towards Substance Use: A Survey of Mental Health Clinicians at an Urban Hospital in Vancouver, Canada

INTRODUCTION

Stigma is a major driver of harms associated with substance use and can interfere with the provision of high-quality, effective healthcare for people who use drugs. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between mental health clinicians' comfort in providing substance use care and their attitudes towards substance use.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, the Brief Substance Abuse Attitudes Survey was administered among a convenience sample of mental health clinicians [N = 71] working in an acute care setting in Vancouver, Canada. One-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to examine the association between three levels of comfort and five predefined attitude subgroups. STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used.

RESULTS

Level of comfort was significantly associated with attitudes towards substance use across three subscales: permissiveness, nonstereotyping and treatment optimism. In pairwise comparisons, the neutral group held significantly less permissive attitudes when compared to the comfortable group. However, the neutral group held more stereotypical views and less optimism about treatment outcomes, when compared to the comfortable and uncomfortable groups, respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight that mental health clinicians who are undecided or neutral about their comfort in providing substance use care are more likely to have negative views towards people with substance use disorders. Future work should explore, implement and evaluate education and training to reduce substance use disorder-related stigma among mental health clinicians and other health professionals.

The joint effect of attachment orientations and empathy on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among oncologists

OBJECTIVE

Compassion fatigue, which consists of burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction are conceptualized as the negative and positive emotional reactions of working in the helping professions. In this study we examined the joint effect of oncologists' attachment orientations and empathy on their compassion fatigue and satisfaction.

METHODS

Seventy-three oncologists completed a demographic questionnaire, the shortened version of the Experiences in Close Relationships scale, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire.

RESULTS

A cluster analysis based on empathy and attachment orientations yielded three meaningful clusters that seem to reflect the three attachment orientations: secure, anxious and avoidant. The oncologists in the three clusters differed in their compassion fatigue levels (i.e. both burnout and secondary traumatic stress) and in their compassion satisfaction levels. Secure attachment (i.e. low scores on both anxious attachment and avoidant attachment) along with high levels of the cognitive component of empathy (perspective-taking) resulted in lower levels of compassion fatigue and higher levels of compassion satisfaction than did insecure attachment.

CONCLUSIONS

The study emphasizes the importance of oncologists' attachment orientations and appropriate distance/closeness to their patients in protecting them from compassion fatigue and helping them experience compassion satisfaction.

The impact of the nursing work environment on compassion fatigue: The mediating role of general self-efficacy

AIM

To explore the interplay between the perceived nursing work environment, general self-efficacy, and compassion fatigue among registered nurses in Chinese hospitals.

BACKGROUND

Compassion fatigue emerges as a significant occupational stress response globally, with the nursing work environment being a pivotal influencer. There is a knowledge gap in understanding how the nursing work environment and general self-efficacy interrelate to affect compassion fatigue, particularly among Chinese nurses.

METHODS

Employing a cross-sectional, descriptive design, this study utilized validated questionnaires to gather data from 7085 nurses across public and private hospitals in China. The analysis focused on assessing the interrelations among the perceived nursing work environment, general self-efficacy, and different dimensions of compassion fatigue.

FINDING

More than half (65.67%) of the participants experienced moderate or high burnout levels, with 76.43% experiencing secondary traumatic stress. The lowest rating in the nursing work environment was for nurse/physician collaboration (10 ± 2.07), while general self-efficacy scored higher (27.54 ± 6.26). A positive relationship existed between the work environment and both general self-efficacy and compassion satisfaction, with a negative correlation to burnout and traumatic stress. General self-efficacy was a partial mediator in the link between work environment and compassion fatigue, suggesting that improving the work environment can decrease compassion fatigue by boosting nurses' self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the profound impact of the nursing work environment on compassion fatigue, mediated by general self-efficacy. It highlights the necessity of fostering a supportive work environment to enhance nurses' self-efficacy and overall well-being.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Healthcare managers and institutions must create supportive work environments to reduce compassion fatigue among nurses. This includes professional development programs to enhance self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Policies should address high workloads and inadequate support. Nurse leaders should foster environments that promote psychological well-being, improving outcomes for both nurses and patients. Regular assessments and adjustments of work conditions are essential to maintain a healthy work environment.

Professional Quality of Life and Turnover Intention Among Perinatal Nurses in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE

To examine relationships between the subdomains of professional quality of life and intention to stay in the job and the profession among perinatal registered nurses in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

There is limited knowledge about professional quality of life, encompassing burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction, and its impact on turnover intention among U.S. perinatal registered nurses.

METHODS

We conducted a repeated, cross-sectional survey. Surveys were distributed online in May 2021 and May 2022 to a convenience sample of perinatal registered nurses (N = 113). We conducted descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman's rank correlation, and multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

There was an increase in burnout (P = .004) and secondary traumatic stress (P < .001) and a decrease in compassion satisfaction (P < .001), and intention to stay in the job (P < .0001) and the profession (P < .001). Higher compassion satisfaction was associated with higher intention to stay in the job (P < .0001) and the profession (P < .0001). Higher burnout was associated with lower intention to stay in the job (P < .0001) and the profession (P < .0001). Higher secondary traumatic stress was associated with lower intention to stay in the job (P < .0001) and the profession (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

We observed deteriorating professional quality of life and decreased intention to stay in the job and in the profession among U.S. perinatal registered nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

Strategies are needed to foster a health care environment in which compassion satisfaction is maximized among perinatal registered nurses.

Australian neonatal nurses' professional quality of life: A descriptive cross-sectional study

This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the demographic profile of surveyed Australian neonatal nurses, explored their self-reported professional quality of life status, and appraised the strength and direction of relationships between these variables. Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) general members (N = 950) were invited to participate. An online QualtricsTM survey was distributed via email. Compassion satisfaction (CS) and fatigue (CF) scores were measured using the Modified Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-21]). Spearman's correlation calculated the strength and direction of relationships between variables. Fifty-three neonatal nurses responded to the survey (N = 950, response rate = 5.58%). Respondents reported moderate to high-level compassion satisfaction and high-level compassion fatigue. Nurses in clinical roles revealed higher compassion fatigue scores than those in non-clinical roles. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between years of experience in neonatal care and compassion satisfaction (r = 0.277, 95% CI [0.002, 0.513]). These findings question the belief that education and experience safeguard against work-related stress and emphasise that strategies to offset the fatigue reported by this female-dominated workforce are needed.

Palliative nurses' empathic tendencies, quality of life, individualized care perceptions

Background: Palliative care is an important part of health services. The individualized care perceptions are is critical for supporting individuality during care and providing quality nursing care. Individualized care not only has, as well as having foundation of the philosophy of nursing but also, is also related to the nurses' empathic tendencies and professional quality of life of nurses.Aim: This study was conducted to examine the relationships between the empathic tendencies, professional quality of life, and individualized care perceptions of palliative care nurses.Research design: This is a cross-sectional study.Participants and research context: The study was conducted with 141 nurses working in palliative care between December 2023 and February 2024. The data of the study were collected using a "Participant Information Form," the "Emphatic Tendency Scale (ETS)," the "Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL R-IV)," and the "Individualized Care Scale-Nurse Version A (ICS-Nurse-A)."Ethical considerations: Ethics committee approval was obtained to conduct the study. Individuals who agreed to participate in the study were informed of the purpose of the study, and their written consent was obtained.Findings: The participants had moderate levels of empathic tendencies, compassion satisfaction, and burnout, while their compassion fatigue and individualized care perceptions were high. There was a positive correlation between empathic tendencies and individualized care perceptions (p < .01). Empathic tendency and compassion satisfaction were significant positive predictors of the individualized care perceptions of the participants and respectively explained 13% and 20% of the total variance in their individualized care perceptions. On the other hand, burnout was a significant negative predictor of their individualized care perceptions and explained 5% of the total variance in their individualized care perceptions.Conclusions: High levels of empathic tendencies and compassion satisfaction had positive effects on the individualized care perceptions of palliative care nurses, whereas high levels of burnout had a negative effect on the same variable.

What is the State of Organisational Compassion-Based Interventions Targeting to Improve Health Professionals' Well-Being? Results of a Systematic Review

AIM

To identify and assess the state of knowledge regarding compassion-based interventions and outcomes, targeted to the organisational level, that aim to improve health professionals' well-being.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

Using the PICO model, the clinical question and search strategy were structured. The searches were performed on 20 September 2022 and 26 December 2023 in the Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases. Content analysis was applied to analyse data, and the PRISMA and SWiM guidelines were followed for reporting.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies, mostly from the United Kingdom and the United States, met the inclusion criteria and were quality assessed and analysed. Compassion-based interventions that target the organisational level are quite new, thus representing a burgeoning initiative. In this review, many included quantitative studies revealed significant methodological challenges in effectively measuring organisational compassion (interpersonal relationships, organisational culture and retention/turnover). However, the review findings overall indicate that interpersonal connections between colleagues that foster a sense of community, through shared experiences, mindfulness and (self-)compassion practices and social activities, may be a protective factor for well-being. Further, the review emphasises the crucial role of management support in catalysing organisational changes to improve health professionals' well-being.

CONCLUSION

Evidence strongly suggests that fostering human interconnectedness among health professionals is associated with enhanced well-being. Further rigorous studies are needed to validate these findings, clarify the organisational cultural aspects of compassion and develop an effective outcome measurement tool for organisational compassion.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Organisational compassion-based interventions may help foster a culture of compassion within organisations, enhance health professionals' capacity for compassion and benefit both their well-being and the quality of care provided to patients and relatives.

PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS

This review is part of a larger project about compassion and includes two patient representatives (mothers of children with cancer) in the research team.

Anxiety and inhibitory control play a chain mediating role between compassion fatigue and Internet addiction disorder among nursing staff

Mental health problems among nurses are prevalent and harmful. Nurses worldwide have encountered serious mental health issues. Although fatigue has been proven to lead to substance abuse or addictive behaviors (such as internet addiction), there is a lack of sufficient data on whether there is a connection with compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a common mental health problem in helping professions. Anxiety and inhibitory control have been demonstrated to be associated with internet addiction, but the mediating role between them in the state of compassion fatigue remains to be further explored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the chain-mediating effect of anxiety and inhibitory control between compassion fatigue and internet addiction in the nurse population. From July to August 2024, a questionnaire survey was conducted using a convenience sampling method in 7 hospitals in Hunan Province, China. A total of 516 front-line clinical nurses were included, among whom 17 were male and 499 were female. Subjective data on compassion fatigue, internet addiction, anxiety, and inhibitory control were collected and analyzed. SPSS 26.0 and its PROCESS macro-plugin were used for data analysis. After controlling for age and gender, compassion fatigue was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (β = 0.40, P < 0.001). However, when anxiety and inhibitory control were added, the prediction of compassion fatigue on internet addiction in the nurse population remained significant (β = 0.18, P < 0.001). Eventually, the research results show that compassion fatigue can predict internet addiction through anxiety and inhibitory control. It is recommended that nursing managers provide appropriate emotional interventions for nurses with compassion fatigue or adjust the shift-scheduling and leave system to prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Hospital Nurses' Professional Quality of Life Model: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Expanded Job Demands-Resources Model

Aim: This study aimed to develop a model that explained the factors influencing the professional quality of life (ProQoL) in hospital nurses based on the expanded job demands-resources model (JD-R model). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 296 nurses with > 1 year of experience from three general hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires between February 13 and 24, 2023. Job stress (JS), supportive organizational environment (SOE), psychological ownership (PO), and career commitment (CC) were exogenous variables. Compassion fatigue (CF) and satisfaction (CS), components of ProQoL, were the endogenous variables. A hypothetical model was assessed through maximum likelihood and bootstrapping via SPSS/AMOS. Results: CF was directly influenced by JS (β = 0.44, p < 0.001) and CC (β = -0.28, p < 0.001). CS was influenced by JS (β = -0.16, p=0.003), PO (β = 0.30, p=0.012), and CC (β = 0.33, p < 0.001). The model's explanatory power for CF and CS was 37.0% and 39.0%, respectively. SOE (β = -0.15 p=0.009) indirectly affected CF through PO and CC. Additionally, PO indirectly affected (β = -0.09, p=0.008) CF through CC. SOE (β = 0.34 p=0.014) indirectly affected CS through PO and CC. PO also had an indirect effect (β = 0.11, p=0.004) on CS through CC. The final model exhibited a good fit. Conclusions: The ProQoL model, based on the expanded JD-R model, is suitable for explaining and predicting the ProQoL among hospital nurses. CC is crucial in mediating the relationships between a SOE, PO, and CF or CS. These findings have implications for developing strategies to enhance nurses' ProQoL. Implication for Nursing Management: This implies the need to reduce JS through workplace improvements, appropriate compensation, and feedback while fostering PO and CC through supportive programs and participatory decision making.

The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Empathic Concern on Mental Health and Behavioral Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Excessive Adaptation

This study examines the complex effects of empathic concern on mental health and behavioral manifestations and the potential indirect paths through excessive adaptation. A cross-sectional design with 1355 participants was employed. Empathic concern, excessive adaptation, prosocial behaviors, reactive aggression, depression, and positive mental health were assessed using established scales. Structural equation modeling and Bayesian linear regression were applied to analyze the paths. For direct paths, empathic concern positively predicted prosocial behaviors and positive mental health, whereas it was negatively related to depression and reactive aggression. For indirect paths, excessive adaptation was found to mediate the relationship between empathic concern and the outcome variables with the exception of positive mental health. By elucidating the mediating role of excessive adaptation, the results herein not only deepen our understanding of the dual effect of empathic concern on mental health and behavioral manifestations but also offer important insights for the medical and educational fields.

Association Between Nurses' Comfort and Confidence in Pain Management and Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue

PURPOSE

A current challenge that may exacerbate symptoms of compassion fatigue and compromise the ability to experience compassion satisfaction among nurses is pain management. This study examined the associations between nurses' comfort with administering pain management, confidence in providers' prescribing patterns and reported compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (measured as burnout and secondary traumatic stress).

DESIGN

This exploratory study used a survey design to gather primary data from nurses via a convenience sampling method.

METHODS

A survey was created and disseminated electronically to registered nurses from September to November 2019. The survey asked about nurses' comfort administering pain medications, confidence in providers' prescribing patterns, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL).

RESULTS

While nurses reported comfort treating patients with pain and managing pain, they were less confident that providers opioid prescribing patterns. Confidence in provider prescribing was positively correlated with compassion satisfaction and negatively correlated with burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

Organizations should focus on continuing education of pain management, creating a culture of evidence-based pain management, and promoting effective communication.

The mental health consequences of COVID-19 on a sample of health professions students: a mixed methods study

Objective: To assess and examine how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the mental health of a sample of health professions students (HPS) using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Participants: Participants included 41 HPS enrolled in a co-curricular interprofessional education (IPE) program. Measurements: Measures included the CES-D scale, PSS scale, and the GAD scale. Qualitative description was used to explore the experiences of these HPS. Results: The HPS explained that fear of acquiring COVID-19, transmitting the virus to loved ones, and dying as a result of the disease negatively influenced their mental health. The HPS revealed that there were some beneficial outcomes resulting from the pandemic, including the strengthening of family bonds and the cultivation of resiliency. Conclusions: The pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of these HPS. It is essential that these students receive support for their mental health in order to provide optimal care to the population they serve.

Exploring the link between work-related psychosocial factors and professional quality of life among ethiopian healthcare workers: Insights from structural equation modelling analyses

BACKGROUND

Work-related psychosocial factors increase the likelihood of poor professional quality of life (PQoL) outcomes, which are composed of three subscales burnout (BO), compassion fatigue(CF), and low compassion satisfaction (CS). However, studies on the impact of work-related psychosocial factors and the mediating role of workplace social support on PQoL in Ethiopian healthcare workers are limited. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the link between work-related factors and three subscales of PQoL, and assess the mediational role of workplace social support.

METHODS

We used a cross-sectional study design in selected public hospitals in Central and Southern Ethiopia between January and February 2023. We used a stratified random multistage sampling technique to select participants. We collected data on our endogenous variables using the PQoL-9 and data on exogenous work-related psychosocial variables using psychometrically validated scales. The data were entered using Epi-info 7 and exported to JAMOVI 2.4.14 for structural equation modelling.

RESULTS

A total of 1426 healthcare workers participated in the study. Among health workers, 25.5% experienced burnout above the third quartile, 24.8% had compassion fatigue above the third quartile, and nearly half scored below the third quartile for compassion satisfaction. Healthcare workers' exposure to higher job demands (β=0.186) and work-family conflict (β =  0.306) were positively associated with BO, while decision latitude (β = -0.133), social support (β = -0.178), and job rewards (β = -0.170) were negatively associated. Decision latitude (β = -0.186), job rewards (β = -0.227), and social support (β = -0.152) are negatively associated, and work-family conflict (β =  0.367), and job effort (β =  0.067) positively associated with CF. Regarding CS, social support (β =  0.305), decision latitude (β = 0.262), and job rewards (β = 0.068) were positively associated, while work-family conflict (β =  -0.199) was negatively associated.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlighted the importance of promoting workplace interventions among healthcare workers to reduce BO, and CF, and increase CS. Various job rewarding strategies including revising current salary evaluation and grading systems, incentive packages, and recognition systems are required to improve health workers' PQoL. Interventions focusing on work-family balance, workload management skills, technical job decision latitude skills and task force allocation may be required to optimize job demands and controls.

The level of moral sensitivity among nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nurses, the largest frontline healthcare group in the world, experience a high incidence of moral distress. Enhancing moral sensitivity (MS) can effectively alleviate this distress. However, MS levels among nurses have not been clearly defined. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of MS among nurses and provide evidence-based insights to improve their moral practices.

METHODS

This review searched multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Medical Journal Full Text Database, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey, from inception to December 31, 2024. Two reviewers (Ting Zhao and Shi Chen) independently screened the literature and extracted data. Their quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tool. Data were analyzed using Stata software (version 17.0) to synthesize the mean scores of the moral sensitivity questionnaire (MSQ). Subgroup and meta-regression analysis were performed to identify the sources of heterogeneity, and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

A total of 99 studies involving 29,387 nurses were included. The pooled mean score for MS was 4.49 [95% CI (4.29, 4.70)], indicating a moderate level. Meta-regression revealed the assessment instrument, country, and department as potential sources of heterogeneity. The mean scores by country were as follows: China (5.22), Korea (4.82), Iran (4.44), and Turkey (3.28). The scores for the different assessment instruments varied, with the MSQ-revised version (5.46) having the highest scores.

CONCLUSION

Nurses demonstrated moderate MS levels, indicating opportunities for further improvement. This review offers useful insights for nurse managers and educators in shaping strategies to improve moral training.

Examining the Burnout of Audiologists in Türkiye: Relationships With Quality of Work Life and Psychological Well-Being

PURPOSE

Although burnout among audiologists has been studied in various countries, there is no research yet that examines this issue in Türkiye, where working conditions and sociodemographic factors may differ from those in other countries. Considering the unique working conditions and sociodemographic factors, this study aimed to investigate the burnout levels of Turkish audiologists. Additionally, this study will explore the impact of various sociodemographic variables on burnout, work-related quality of life, and depression to gain a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by audiologists in Türkiye.

METHOD

A total of 193 audiologists, with a median age of 27 (interquartile range: 25-29) years, working in different working areas, such as clinical practice, academic institutions, rehabilitation centers, and amplification services in Türkiye, were included. Audiologists were invited to participate in this study via several online forums and hospital notice boards. All participants completed the sociodemographic data form and then the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Work-Related Quality of Life Scale (WRQoL), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

RESULTS

Differences between MBI, WRQoL, and BDI scores were analyzed according to gender, level of education, area of work, and title of audiologist. There are significant differences in the subscale scores of the MBI and WRQoL scales and in the BDI scores between groups according to gender, education, and area of work. There are also significant differences in BDI scores according to title. There is a significant correlation between the MBI, WRQoL, and BDI scores of audiologists.

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents the initial exploration of burnout, quality of work life, and depression levels among audiologists employed in Türkiye. A low quality of work life can increase the risk of burnout and depression. Enhancements in the work environment can lessen burnout and depression while also improving employees' general quality of life.

Psychosocial Predictors of Job Satisfaction in Nursing: Insights from a Spanish Hospital Setting

Nurses play a key role in healthcare systems, yet their job satisfaction is often challenged by factors such as emotional exhaustion and organisational dynamics. This study examines the relationship between psychological empowerment, affective commitment, and emotional exhaustion as predictors of job satisfaction in a sample of 150 Spanish nurses. Data were collected using validated questionnaires measuring these constructs, and mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro. Results indicated that psychological empowerment positively influenced job satisfaction both directly and indirectly through affective commitment. However, emotional exhaustion did not significantly mediate this relationship, suggesting that contextual factors such as workload may override its effects. This research contributes to the understanding of job satisfaction among healthcare professionals and highlights the importance of empowerment and affective engagement. Practical implications for hospital management include fostering psychological empowerment through organisational strategies that promote autonomy, competence, and meaningful involvement, which could improve nurses' well-being and organisational performance.

The relationship between burnout, sense of coherence and job safety attitudes among nurses after coronavirus disease 2019 in China: a cross-sectional survey

Objective

To investigate burnout, sense of coherence (SOC), and job safety attitudes among nurses in China after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 302 front-line nurses from Fangcang shelter hospitals (FSHs) in China. Descriptive, univariate, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to analyze factors related to job safety attitudes of nurses toward FSHs.

Results

The incidence of burnout among nurses in FSHs was 65.2%; 57.9% had a low level of SOC, the score for safety attitude was 74.47 (standard deviation = 13.33), and the agreement rate was 51%. Burnout was negatively correlated with SOC (r = -0.399, p < 0.01) and safety attitudes (r = -0.141, p < 0.05), and SOC was positively correlated with safety attitudes (r = 0.428, p < 0.01). Personal accomplishment, depersonalization, changes in working hours, manageability, and marital status explained 33.8% of the variance in work safety attitudes.

Conclusion

This study investigated the levels of burnout, SOC, and safety attitudes among nurses after COVID-19 in Chinese FSHs for the first time, and analyzed the associated factors. The results are valuable for improving the quality of nursing safety as well as patient safety management in FSHs.

Investigating the relationship between compassion fatigue and moral injury in nurses

BACKGROUND

Compassion fatigue and professional quality of life are important in health and professional ethics.

AIM

This study aimed to determine the relationship between compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury in nurses.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This research is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. The research community of this research was all the nurses of the teaching hospitals of Ardabil city. Three questionnaires on demographic characteristics, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), and the Moral Injury Events Scale were used to collect data. SPSS (version 22) software was used for data analysis.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

The study recruited 297 nurses randomly selected from five teaching hospitals in Ardabil city.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences ethics committee (with the code of ethics IR.ARUMS.REC.1401.198). Informed consent was obtained from the participants.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean compassion satisfaction score of this study's participants was 37.61 ± 8.86, the mean compassion fatigue score of this study's participants was 28.73 ± 7.04, and the mean secondary traumatic stress score of this study's participants was 29.95 ± 7.84. The mean score of moral injury among nurses was 31.19 ± 8.54. The results showed a negative significant relationship between compassion satisfaction and moral injury (p < 0.001). Also, there is a positive significant relationship between compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress with moral injury (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show a negative relationship between compassion satisfaction and moral injury. According to the results of the present study, nurse managers should implement educational interventions, create ethical processes, and clear ethical guidelines to reduce moral injury and increase compassion satisfaction.

Factors influencing compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses: a study in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND

Nursing is a caring profession for which compassion is a core value. Increasing stress and declining job satisfaction are among the major challenges in nursing. Demographic and work-related factors may influence nurses' compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (i.e., burnout and secondary traumatic stress) levels. In this study, the level of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction and their associated factors were examined among nurses in a tertiary hospital.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. The data were collected over a period of 6 months via online distribution of the Personal Information Form, Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) version III and Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) version V questionnaires. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency of the questionnaire scales was mostly acceptable and above 0.75. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the sociodemographic and rank domains of work environment-related factors for nurses and their levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Relationships between sociodemographic factors and the levels of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout were assessed by bivariate analyses. A p value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 323 registered nurses participated in this study. A majority of the participants were female (91%, n = 294), and the mean age of the participants was 33.01 ± 8.50 years. The majority of the participants had moderate levels of compassion satisfaction (71%, n = 229); 46% (n = 148) had moderate levels of burnout, and 45% (n = 147) had moderate levels of secondary traumatic stress. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the health and well-being and demands at work domain were significantly associated with compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress levels among nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the majority of the nurses reported decreased compassion satisfaction and increased burnout. These findings provide valuable insights, as there may be detrimental effects on the healthcare industry and retention of nurses if no action is taken to combat compassion fatigue. Recommendations to motivate nurses and reduce demands at work should be explored by healthcare organizations to increase nurses' performance and job satisfaction.

Understanding compassion fatigue among social workers: a scoping review

Exposure to significant sources of trauma and stress among social workers is increasingly identified as an important issue that can impact the quality of professional services, and the social worker's well-being. There is more and more literature focusing on this phenomenon and related concepts. However, to our knowledge, there has been no published systematic review of the literature on compassion fatigue (CF) among social workers. Therefore, we performed a systematic scoping review by searching five electronic databases for studies published from 2001 to 2021, with the aim of identifying relevant literature. A total of twenty-nine studies were selected in the review following the systematic search strategy. Five themes were identified through the use of a narrative approach to synthesizing the literature by a Five-step framework of scoping review, including the prevalence, factors related, attributes and characteristics, consequences and strategies or interventions to reduce compassion fatigue among social workers. Findings revealed that few studies had examined the consequences and tested the effectiveness of specific interventions. Furthermore, future research involving concept analysis and related theoretical model was required in the field of social work.

Relation Between Humor Styles and Psychopathological Symptoms in Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: Being a healthcare professional often involves exposure to complex situations that can contribute to the development of psychological problems. Evidence suggests that both mental and physical health are crucial for the well-being of these professionals, which in turn influences the quality of care they provide to patients. The main aim of this study was to examine the association between adaptive and maladaptive forms of humor and psychopathological disorders among healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design was employed. The participants consisted of 250 healthcare professionals at a general hospital. Humor styles and the presence of psychological and psychosomatic symptoms were assessed. Data were collected using the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), the Short Checklist of Symptoms (LSB-50), and sociodemographic information. Spearman correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted. Results: Healthcare professionals were more inclined to use affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles compared to self-defeating and aggressive humor. Affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles were negatively correlated with psychological symptoms, whereas aggressive humor and, to a lesser extent, self-defeating humor styles showed a significantly positive correlation with most psychological symptoms. Regression analysis revealed that positive humor styles negatively predicted all severity indices of the LSB-50. In contrast, negative humor styles, particularly self-defeating humor, positively predicted the severity indices. Being female, working night shifts, and having temporary contracts were positive predictors of most global indices of the LSB-50. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of considering different types of humor as a potential strategy for improving the mental health of healthcare professionals, as well as the influence of other independent variables related to their personal and work environment. Positive humor styles, specifically affiliative and self-enhancing humor, are associated with a lower prevalence of psychological symptoms among healthcare professionals. Negative humor styles are correlated with a higher prevalence of these symptoms.

Sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue in intensive care unit nurses: A chain mediation model

BACKGROUND

Compassion among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is an essential component of humanistic care in the ICU However, the enormous pressures of the job and the lack of social support have led to persistently severe compassion fatigue. Sensory processing sensitivity, as a personality trait for individuals to perceive external factors, has underlying significance for compassion fatigue.

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the internal and external environmental factors and the underlying mechanisms that influence the impact of sensory processing sensitivity among ICU nurses on the development of compassion fatigue.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 290 nurses from various hospitals in five cities in China.

METHOD

A self-designed demographic questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Chinese version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, the Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale were used to survey 290 ICU nurses. The mediating roles of perceived social support and perceived stress between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue were tested.

RESULTS

The research results indicate that the total effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is significant (0.245 [0.093, 1.160]), whereas the direct effect of sensory processing sensitivity on compassion fatigue is not significant (-0.43 [-0.402, 0.247]). Perceived social support and perceived stress exhibit serial mediating effects between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue (-0.065 [-0.142, -0.013]).

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed, for the first time, the underlying mechanism between sensory processing sensitivity and compassion fatigue among ICU nurses. Providing necessary stress-relief condition and abundant social support are important measures for nursing managers to reduce compassion fatigue and improve the quality of critical care humanistic nursing services.

Implementation of a Trauma-Informed Care Approach in a Gastroenterology Setting

BACKGROUND

Most individuals who come under the care of large healthcare systems will have experienced at least one traumatic incident in their lifetime that may continue to influence their mental and physical health, disease management, and engagement with treatment and medical professionals. Histories of trauma are especially common in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) illness. Trauma reactions can arise in GI settings, but healthcare providers may not recognize these reactions or know how to respond effectively.

AIMS

We aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the relationship between trauma and GI symptoms, trauma reactions in a healthcare setting, strategies for responding to patients in emotional distress, and opportunities to reduce risk of retraumatization in a GI setting.

METHODS

Within a larger initiative to enhance behavioral healthcare access and engagement in a GI setting, patient and stakeholder interviews were conducted, and a needs assessment survey was administered. Interview and survey findings informed development of innovative solutions to the identified need for improved trauma services and resources using an iterative, team-based approach.

RESULTS

Programs and resources were developed and implemented to increase recognition of the impact of trauma, improve responses to trauma reactions during encounters with patients (e.g., clinical and procedure visits, telephone calls), and provide support to patients receiving GI care.

CONCLUSIONS

Trauma-focused programming specific to the needs of patients with GI conditions is desired by patients, providers, and staff. Education, intervention, and support initiatives have potential to increase awareness of the effects of trauma and enhance experience of healthcare.

The mediating effect of job burnout on perceived stress and presenteeism among geriatric caregivers in long-term care facilities

This study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived stress and presenteeism among geriatric caregivers in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), as well as to examine the mediating role of job burnout. A total of 272 geriatric caregivers in LTCFs were recruited. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale-6 (SPS-6). The mediating effect of job burnout between perceived stress and presenteeism was tested using the PROCESS macro model 4. The results indicated that job burnout partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and presenteeism (B = 0.280, 95 %CI: [0.108, 0.186]), accounting for 39.05 % of the total effect. The findings suggest that LTCF managers should take proactive measures to reduce work-related stress of geriatric caregivers, improve their job burnout, and consequently reduce the occurrence of presenteeism.

Prevalence and related factors of compassion fatigue among registered nurses and nursing students during the internship: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Compassion fatigue impacts nurses' well-being and work efficiency. Extensive research has explored its prevalence, but evidence regarding related factors is broadly categorized and lacks descriptive data. There's also a lack of systematic reviews on compassion fatigue among nursing students during internships.

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize evidence on the levels and factors of compassion fatigue among nurses and nursing students during internships.

METHODS

This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (ID CRD42023444173). Literature searches were conducted in five databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, and WanFang) up to November 30, 2022, with updates planned until January 17, 2024, if necessary. Inclusion criteria covered studies reporting data on the prevalence and related factors of compassion fatigue or its dimensions, burnout and secondary traumatic stress, among registered nurses or nursing students during internships. Independent study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool was used for critical appraisal of study quality. Random-effects model analyses were conducted using Stata 17.0 to pool data on prevalence rates and mean scores of compassion fatigue. When comprehensive data on compassion fatigue were unavailable, its dimensions were analyzed for both prevalence and mean scores.

RESULTS

Our review included 196 studies (73,034 nurses and 4,551 nursing students). For nurses, pooled mean scores for burnout and secondary traumatic stress were 26.81 (95% CI 26.28 to 27.35) and 25.88 (95% CI 25.39 to 26.37), respectively. For nursing students during internships, pooled mean scores were 29.16 (95% CI 26.95 to 31.37) and 25.64 (95% CI 20.95 to 30.34), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that post-COVID-19 pandemic, nurses exhibited higher compassion fatigue, especially in ICU or emergency departments. Evidence from 93 studies suggested that nurses' burnout and secondary traumatic stress are both influenced by work environment, social support, job satisfaction, workload, and psychological capital (moderate to low-certainty evidence). For nursing students, psychological capital plays a significant role (moderate to low-certainty evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

Both registered nurses and nursing students experience moderate compassion fatigue. Work environment, social support, job satisfaction, workload, and psychological capital are key factors associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress in registered nurses. For nursing students, psychological capital plays a similarly significant role. Given that this is the first systematic review to explore these factors among nursing students, further research is essential to deepen understanding and develop effective interventions.

Nurses' professional quality of life and job satisfaction in Jordan

Background

Professional quality of life has received widespread concern in nursing over the last few years. Nurses with a high professional quality of life enthusiastically approach their work and provide excellent patient care. On the other hand, poor professional quality of life may affect nurses' quality of care, resulting in job dissatisfaction and jeopardizing patient outcomes.

Aim

To examine the relationship between the professional quality of life and job satisfaction among registered nurses.

Method

A cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sampling were used. Data were collected using the Professional Quality of Life Scale-Health and the Job Satisfaction Survey.

Results

The mean total score for the nurses' job satisfaction survey was high 117.47 (SD = 27.26). The nature of work subscale had the highest mean, while the fringe benefits subscale had the lowest. The mean total score for the Professional Quality of Life Scale for Health Workers was moderate 98.41 (SD = 12.15). The Compassion Satisfaction subscale had the highest mean score, while the moral distress subscale had the lowest. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between nurses' job satisfaction and professional quality of life for health workers.

Conclusion

Nursing supervisors need to be more aware of the variables influencing nurses' professional quality of life and job to assess the degree of moral distress and satisfaction. Although nurses offer their patients physical, psychological, and spiritual care, their duties and interactions with patients can have a negative impact on them. As a result, nurses will be better equipped to care for patients if they have the assistance and support they need.

Impact of COVID-19 on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study explored and described the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurse outcomes in the private sector of South Africa. National research shows that nurses had poor nurse outcomes prior to the pandemic, amidst these issues the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, with nurses having to play a key role in the public health response. International studies have shown that although nurses were willing to serve in this manner, they experienced moderate to high burnout, anxiety, depression, fear and exhaustion. However, this topic has received comparatively little attention in African countries.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey design was conducted. Multistage sampling was applied in selection of provinces, hospital groups, hospitals, units, and nursing personnel. Valid and reliable tools were used to measure nurse outcomes. Data was collected from April 2021 until January 2022.

RESULTS

Nurses described having high levels of compassion satisfaction, moderate levels of compassion fatigue, and high levels of burnout. Nurses appeared satisfied with their job and career. Almost a quarter of nurses reported the intention to leave their job, and of those about a fifth indicated that they intended to leave the profession. The nurses who routinely cared for COVID-19 patients had a small statistically significant increase in compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, emotional exhaustion and, job turnover intention, and a small statistically significant decrease in job satisfaction. Increased exposure to death and dying showed small correlations with emotional exhaustion and career turnover intentions.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that nurses were impacted by COVID-19 and death and dying during the pandemic, and that follow-up studies are needed post-pandemic.

IMPLICATIONS OF STUDY

It is important that burnout and compassion fatigue be addressed on an organizational level, as nurse outcomes were already negative prior to the pandemic, and all global evidence points to the worsening of these outcomes post-pandemic. There were many psychological support interventions with proven effectiveness that should be explored and applied for the South African context.

Communication at work: A survey to explore the relationships between healthcare providers' communication competence and professional quality of life in neonatal care

Objective

Providing medical care to preterm infants can be rewarding yet also stressful for healthcare providers in the neonatal care unit (NICU). While the impact of provider-parent communication on parent-related stress and satisfaction is widely accepted, little is known about the provider perspective. Therefore, this study explores the relationships between neonatal care providers' communicative competence and their professional quality of life and job satisfaction.

Methods

Using the NICU Communication Framework, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among N = 300 Dutch pediatricians‑neonatologists, nurses, and ancillary staff.

Results

Communication performance and providers' job satisfaction were correlated, particularly in terms of perceived quality of care, professional relationships, and personal rewards. When providers deemed communication important and perceived themselves as skilled communicators, job satisfaction increased. Experiencing sufficient time for conversations with parents was inversely correlated with provider fatigue and burn-out. Yet, providers reported insufficient opportunity for communication.

Conclusion

These results warrant reflection on the importance of communication in neonatal care, for the wellbeing of parents and providers alike.

Innovation

Focusing on the provider perspective, this study provides novel insights into the relationships between communication and outcomes of care. Our findings uniquely emphasize the power of communication to foster staff satisfaction and reduce burn-out in the NICU.

Relationship between nurses' resilience and quality of professional life

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the resilience levels of nurses and qualit of their professional life.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' resilience level can affect their professional qualityof life. A higher resilience level enables them to manage stress and overcome challanges more effectively leading to enhanced patient care and satisfaction. Coversly, lower resiliance can lead to burnout, negatievly impacting both the nurses' wellbeing and the quality of service delivered to patients.

INTRODUCTION

It is crucial to understand the correlation between the professional life quality and resilience of nurses working in difficult conditions.

METHODS

This correlational study was conducted between September 2021 and February 2022. A total of 276 nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using the Demographic Data Form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, the Professional Quality-of-Life Scale, and the Resilience Scale for Adults.

RESULTS

The resilience score was above average, and the professional quality of life was high. Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, which are components of professional quality of life, were moderate, and the burnout level was low. A robust positive correlation was observed between resilience and the professional quality of life. The linear regression model showed that choosing the profession unwillingly, dissatisfaction with the unit in which one works, and the level of psychological resilience are independent factors of professional quality of life.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, high psychological resilience increases the quality of professional life. Resilience, choosing nursing willingly, and liking the unit in which one works are determinants of professional quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Enhancing the professional quality of life of nurses has important individual, institutional, and social consequences. Enhancing resilience has the potential to elevate the quality of professional life. Hence, it is important to develop national and international policies and models. Additionally, managers bear significant responsibilities in ensuring a positive work environment. Undoubtedly, having nurses work in units they like, feel happy in, and prefer will increase their professional quality of life and make positive contributions to patient care, the institution, and society.

The relation between humor styles and nurse burnout: a cross-sectional study in China

Background

Nurse burnout is a prevalent issue in healthcare, impacting both nurses' well-being and patient care quality. This cross-sectional study examined the association between humor styles and nurse burnout.

Methods

A total of 244 nurses in China completed an online self-report measure to assess their humor styles and burnout levels using the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Spearman correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were conducted.

Results

The results showed that affiliative and self-enhancing humor were moderately used, while aggressive and self-defeating humor were rated low among the nurses. Emotional exhaustion was moderate, depersonalization was severe, and personal accomplishment was low. Correlation analyses uncovered significant relationships between humor styles and burnout dimensions. Self-enhancing humor exhibited negative correlations with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, while aggressive and self-defeating humor styles displayed positive correlations with these burnout factors. Affiliative humor was also negatively correlated with depersonalization. Additionally, self-enhancing humor was positively correlated with personal accomplishment, whereas aggressive humor showed negative correlations with this dimension of burnout. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that self-defeating humor positively predicted emotional exhaustion while self-enhancing humor negatively predicted it. Aggressive humor positively predicted depersonalization, and affiliative and self-enhancing humor also positively predicted this dimension of burnout. Self-enhancing humor positively predicted personal accomplishment, while aggressive and self-defeating humor negatively predicted this dimension.

Conclusion

The findings highlighted the importance of considering different types of humor in understanding the various dimensions of nurse burnout. The use of self-defeating and aggressive humor appears detrimental, while the use of self-enhancing humor may be beneficial in mitigating burnout among nurses.

Validation of the scale compassion fatigue inventory in health professional Spanish-speaking: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To validate the Compassion Fatigue Inventory in Spanish-speaking health personnel, its psychometric properties were tested, and the influencing factors were investigated.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional validation study. Information was collected through a survey of 733 nurses, physician and medical residents using the Compassion fatigue Inventory (CFI), Secondary Traumatic Stress Questionnaire (CETS), The physician burnout syndrome scale (PhBS), the quality-of-life index (SQL -sp) and the reduced Moral Stress Scale (MMDHPr). The psychometric properties of the CFI were tested via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency analysis. The final version of the translated CFI was correlated with other scales.

RESULTS

An EFA was performed to evaluate the translated CFI, resulting in 15 items in three dimensions, as reported in the literature: reduced compassion, social life, and workplace. The CFA showed good fit indices and psychometric values (Cronbach´s alpha = 0.87, Omega = 0.87, Comparative Fit Index = 0.99, Tucker Lewis = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation = 0.045, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.05). The CFI had a negative correlation with the SQL-sp and a positive correlation with the other subscales. Work experience is predictive of a small reduction in CFI scores.

CONCLUSION

The adaptation of the CFI in a sample of Latino health professionals shows satisfactory psychometric indices in the evaluation of compassion fatigue and can be proposed as a specific inventory to differentiate compassion fatigue from other occupational syndromes.

The effect of perceived organizational support and ego-resilience on the relationship between occupational stressors and compassion fatigue in COVID-19 frontline nurses: a cross-sectional study in Sichuan, China

AIM

To investigate the level of compassion fatigue among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the relationship between occupational stressors and compassion fatigue among frontline nurses based on structural equation modelling.

BACKGROUND

Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses on the frontlines of the battle were overwhelmed by affective and emotional inputs while caring for patients, and they generally experienced varying degrees of psychological problems. High levels of compassion fatigue can affect nursing quality and patient safety and therefore should be taken seriously by nursing managers.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 1432 frontline nurses in Sichuan Province, China, was conducted from January to March 2023 via convenience sampling methods. The General Information Questionnaire, the Nurses' Occupational Stressors Scale, the Ego-Resilience Scale, the Chinese version of the Compassion Fatigue Brief Scale, and the Perceived Organizational Support Scale were used to collect the data. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation models and bootstrapping methods.

RESULTS

Nurse occupational stressors had a significant direct effect on compassion fatigue (B = 2.429, p < 0.001). Perceived organizational support exerted a mediating effect of 11.36% between occupational stressors and compassion fatigue. In addition, ego-resilience had a moderating role in the relationship between nurses' occupational stressors and compassion fatigue, between nurses' occupational stressors and perceived organizational support, and between perceived organizational support and compassion fatigue. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the most influential dimension of occupational stressors on compassion fatigue was work-family conflict (β = 0.253, p < 0.001), followed by organizational issues (β = 0.153, p < 0.001), work demands (β = 0.103, p < 0.001) and difficulty taking leave (β = 0.102, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Nurse occupational stressors are positively associated with compassion fatigue and influence nurse compassion fatigue through the mediating effect of perceived organizational support and the moderating mechanism of ego-resilience. Managers can reduce nurses' compassion fatigue levels by reducing occupational stressors, promoting nurses' perceived organizational support, and fostering ego-resilience.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

This study further integrated the external and internal factors affecting compassion fatigue and constructed a structural equation model of the mechanism of compassion fatigue in frontline nurses, which has implications for the early identification and intervention of compassion fatigue in nurses.

Nurse Burnout and Patient Safety, Satisfaction, and Quality of Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance

Occupational burnout syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment and is prevalent among nurses. Although previous meta-analyses have explored the correlates of nurse burnout, none have estimated their association with health care quality and safety and patient morbidity and mortality.

Objective

To evaluate the magnitude and moderators of the association between nurse burnout and patient safety, patient satisfaction, and quality of care.

Data Source

The Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ProQuest databases were searched from January 1, 1994, to February 29, 2024.

Study Selection

Two reviewers independently identified studies that reported a quantifiable association between nurse burnout and any of the outcomes of patient safety, patient satisfaction, or quality of health care.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

The PRISMA 2020 guideline was followed. Two reviewers independently extracted the standardized mean difference (SMD) (Cohen d) estimates for a random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were conducted using prespecified variables.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Any measure of patient safety, patient satisfaction, or quality of health care previously associated with nurse burnout.

Results

A total of 85 studies (81 cross-sectional and 4 longitudinal) involving 288 581 nurses from 32 countries (mean [SD] age, 33.9 (2.1) years; 82.7% female; mean [SD] burnout prevalence rate with study-specific ascertainments, 30.7% [9.7%]) were included. Nurse burnout was associated with a lower safety climate or culture (SMD, -0.68; 95% CI, -0.83 to -0.54), lower safety grade (SMD, -0.53; 95% CI, -0.72 to -0.34), and more frequent nosocomial infections (SMD, -0.20; 95% CI, -0.36 to -0.04), patient falls (SMD, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.22 to -0.03), medication errors (SMD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.11), adverse events or patient safety incidents (SMD, -0.42; 95% CI, -0.76 to -0.07), and missed care or care left undone (SMD, -0.58; 95% CI, -0.91 to -0.26) but not with the frequency of pressure ulcers. Nurse burnout was also associated with lower patient satisfaction ratings (SMD, -0.51; 95% CI, -0.86 to -0.17) but not with the frequencies of patient complaints or patient abuse. Finally, nurse burnout was associated with lower nurse-assessed quality of care (SMD, -0.44; 95% CI, -0.57 to -0.30) but not with standardized mortality rate. The associations were consistent across nurses' age, sex, work experience, and geography and persistent over time. For patient safety outcomes, the association was smaller for the low personal accomplishment subcomponent of burnout than for emotional exhaustion or depersonalization, as well as for nurses with a college education.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, nurse burnout was found to be associated with lower health care quality and safety and lower patient satisfaction. This association was consistent across nurse and study characteristics.

[Should I Stay or Should I go? Resilience, Intention to Quit and Job Satisfaction among Nurses in Intensive Care Units]

AIM

Addressing the global nursing shortage is crucial to both national and international public health efforts. This paper aims to highlight the importance of resilience and its impact on primary care nurses' job satisfaction and intentions to quit, especially in the face of current challenges.

METHODS

The study utilized a mixed methods design involving nurses in intensive care units of a university hospital in Austria. In the first phase of data collection, qualitative focus group interviews were conducted to gather insights on the current challenges and stressors faced by nursing professionals. Building on relevant literature, a quantitative survey was then administered to all nurses, using scales measuring resilience, intention to quit, and job satisfaction in order to examine the relationships between these variables. In addition, a data structuring of the resilience scale by factors was achieved with the help of confirmatory factor analysis. Subsequently, the correlations of the resilience factors with the other variables were examined by means of an additional correlation, regression and mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed negative correlations with regard to resilience and intention to quit as well as with regard to job satisfaction and intention to quit. In contrast, job satisfaction and resilience correlated significantly positively with each other. The negative correlation between resilience and the intention to quit was confirmed, but only for the factors "goal focus" and "pride and commitment". A closer examination of the two factors and their associated items revealed a connection to both professional identity and organizational identity.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights for health care leaders and health care decision makers to effectively lead, develop, and thereby retain primary care nurses. The authors argue that improving resilience and strengthening organizational identity are important influencing factors in increasing job satisfaction and reducing nurses' intention to quit.

Understanding the interplay of compassion fatigue and moral resilience on moral distress in ICU nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses frequently confront significant psychological challenges, including compassion fatigue, moral distress, and diminished moral resilience. These issues not only affect their well-being but also impact the quality of care provided to patients. The interplay of these factors is complex and not fully understood, particularly how compassion fatigue influences the relationship between moral resilience and moral distress.

Objectives

To explore the complex interplay between compassion fatigue and moral distress among ICU nurses, and to elucidate how compassion fatigue influences the protective role of moral resilience against moral distress.

Research design

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a nationwide random sample of ICU nurses in China. Latent profile analysis identified subgroups based on levels of compassion fatigue. Moderation analysis examined whether compassion fatigue moderated the association between moral resilience and moral distress.

Results

Among 612 ICU nurses, latent profile analysis revealed three distinct groups with high, moderate, and low levels of compassion fatigue. Being female was protective against high compassion fatigue, while ages 30-49 yrs., lack of bachelor's degree, and dissatisfaction with salary increased compassion fatigue risk. Moderation analysis showed compassion fatigue significantly moderated the relationship between moral resilience and moral distress. Nurses with higher compassion fatigue exhibited a stronger association between low moral resilience and high moral distress.

Conclusion

Compassion fatigue and moral distress are interconnected phenomena among ICU nurses. Demographic factors like gender, age, education, and income satisfaction impact compassion fatigue risk. High compassion fatigue impairs moral resilience, exacerbating moral distress. Comprehensive interventions targeting both compassion fatigue and moral resilience, tailored to nurses' demographic profiles, are needed to support this workforce.

Life satisfaction, psychological distress, compassion satisfaction and resilience: when the pleasure of helping others protects veterinary staff from emotional suffering

INTRODUCTION

Individuals working in veterinary field suffer significantly from mental health problems, and research has extensively focused on psychological and work-related predictors of psychological distress. This study intended to approach psychological distress through a positive lens by investigating the predictive role of life satisfaction on psychological distress in veterinary staff, and the mediating effect of compassion satisfaction, resilience and perceived social support.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 868 veterinary staff (i.e. veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary assistants and veterinary administrative staff) completed a web-survey assessing life satisfaction, psychological distress, compassion satisfaction, resilience, and social support.

RESULTS

Life satisfaction negatively predicts psychological distress, and compassion satisfaction and resilience showed a mediation effect on the relationship between life satisfaction and psychological distress, with compassion satisfaction explaining 59% and resilience 6.4% of the effect of life satisfaction on psychological distress.

CONCLUSION

Current data support the role of life satisfaction as a protective dimension on psychological distress within a broader sample population of veterinary staff in Portugal, highlighting the role of compassion satisfaction and resilience in contributing in minimising distress among veterinary staff.

Experiences and attitudes of psychiatric nurses in caring for patients with repeated non-suicidal self-injury in China: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The incidence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is high and often occurs repeatedly. Psychiatric nurses play a vital role in the care and treatment of NSSI patients, as they have the most frequent contact with patients. The experiences and attitudes of nurses has a direct affect on the quality of care they provide to patients. Negative care experiences and attitudes of patient aversion on behalf of nurses may delay the observation and treatment of changes in the patient's condition, leading to irreversible risks. Although cross-sectional studies have investigated the attitudes of medical staff toward NSSI patients, quantitative research results cannot comprehensively reflect the emotional experiences and complex psychological changes of the study subjects. A few studies have focused on the psychiatric nurses' care experiences and attitudes toward patients with repeated NSSI.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore psychiatric nurses' care experiences and attitudes toward patients during repeated NSSI.

METHODS

A thematic analysis qualitative study was used. Using purposive sampling, 18 psychiatric nurses were recruited from a mental health center in Chengdu, China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and audio-recorded. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using six-phase thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged from the analysis: psychiatric nurses' care experiences, perceptions, care attitudes and coping style toward repeated NSSI patients. Psychiatric nurses have experienced negative care experiences and severe career burnout during the patient's repeated NSSI. Nurses' attitudes toward NSSI patients changed during repeated NSSI, from understanding to indifference to anger and resentment. At the same time, it was found that nurses' coping style with NSSI patients could be divided into three stages, namely, active coping, neglect and perfunctory, and criticism and punishment.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings have implications for health care systems regarding interventions to improve nurses' care experiences and attitudes toward repeated NSSI patients. These findings suggest that enhancing nurses' understanding of NSSI, establishing standardized emergency response and intervention programs, guiding positive professional values and responsibility, and improving nurses' caring attitudes can promote the early detection and timely intervention of NSSI.

Reliability and Validity of Measures Commonly Utilized to Assess Nurse Well-Being

BACKGROUND

A healthy nursing workforce is vital to ensuring that patients are provided quality care. Assessing nurses' well-being and related factors requires routine evaluations from health system leaders that leverage brief psychometrically sound measures. To date, measures used to assess nurses' well-being have primarily been psychometrically tested among other clinicians or nurses working in specific clinical practice settings rather than in large, representative, heterogeneous samples of nurses.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to psychometrically test measures frequently used to evaluate factors linked to nurse well-being in a heterogeneous sample of nurses within a large academic health system.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, survey-based study used a convenience sample of nurses working across acute care practice settings. A total of 177 nurses completed measures, which included the Professional Quality of Life, the short form of the Professional Quality of Life measure, the two-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the five-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, and the single-item Mini-Z. Internal reliability and convergent validity were assessed for each measure.

RESULTS

All the measures were found to be reliable. Brief measures used to assess domains of well-being demonstrated validity with longer measures, as evident by significant correlation coefficients.

DISCUSSION

This study provides support for the reliability and validity of measures commonly used to assess well-being in a diverse sample of nurses working across acute care settings. Data from routine assessments of the nursing workforce hold the potential to guide the implementation and evaluation of interventions capable of promoting workplace well-being. Assessments should include psychometrically sound, low-burden measures, such as those evaluated in this study.

Effect of Mindfulness Intervention on Compassion Fatigue Among Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

Compassion fatigue is a syndrome defined by both mental and physical restlessness. Mindfulness intervention can enhance one's emotions with nonjudgmental awareness and greater consciousness of thoughts and feelings. This study aims to examine the effect of mindfulness intervention on compassion fatigue among nurses. A randomized controlled trial was conducted, recruiting 100 nurses from three hospitals and dividing participants into an intervention and a control group. Increased mindfulness awareness was found in the comparison group in the research. The intervention group's mean burnout level was significantly lower than the comparison group. Age, gender, marital status, household size, and household income were among the sociodemographic factors that significantly correlated with compassion fatigue, which was determined through burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Nurses reported significant levels of compassion fatigue; however, this was significantly decreased through mindfulness intervention.

Experiences of compassion fatigue among Generation Z nurses in the emergency department: a qualitative study in Shanghai, China

BACKGROUND

Due to the unique working environment and nature of work in emergency departments, nurses are prone to experiencing compassion fatigue (CF), leading to job burnout and attrition. As more Generation Z (Gen Z) nurses enter the emergency department with distinct personality traits compared to previous generations, studying their experiences with CF will inform future management strategies.

METHODS

The qualitative phenomenological research method was utilised to investigate CF among Gen Z emergency nurses at a hospital in Shanghai, China. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological analysis method. Study participants were purposively selected.

RESULTS

Three main themes and nine sub-themes emerged from the study: secondary traumatic stress, including physiological symptoms, psychological symptoms, and behavioral changes; cumulative effects, including impaired empathy, interference with family life, and post-traumatic growth (PTG); coping strategies, including cognitive reconstruction, seeking support, and facilitating action.

CONCLUSIONS

The aim of this study is to investigate the experience of CF among Gen Z emergency nurses, providing managers with a reference for future management strategies. The significance of multi-dimensional support for Gen Z emergency nurses is underscored by our findings. Additionally, interventions that enhance resilience and competency can facilitate their psychological transformation after experiencing CF and promote accelerated personal growth.

Impact of Nursing Professional Values on Depression, Stress, and Anxiety among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Aim

The aim was to explore the association between nursing professional values (NPV) and mental health among registered nurses (RN) in Spain.

Background

Nursing is a profession rooted in strong professional values, which guide and shape clinical practice and occupational behaviors. NPV should serve as a source of support in situations of great uncertainty.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the remission phase of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2020-January 2021) among a sample of Spanish RN (n = 420). NPV were assessed using the Nursing Professional Values Scale (NPVS-R), comprising 26 items grouped into five factors: caring, activism, trust, professionalism, and justice. Perceived stress, anxiety, and depression were measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Adjusted linear regressions were used to estimate b coefficients for the associations between NPV scores and the three mental health indicators.

Results

The fully-adjusted analysis, including sociodemographic and occupational variables, revealed that higher activism scores were associated with higher scores of stress (b coefficient: 0.46; 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.88; p value: 0.035), anxiety (0.24; 0.05-0.43; 0.014), and depression (0.19; 0.01-0.36; 0.035). No other NPV was associated with mental health.

Conclusion

Organizational policies and programs should be established to protect the most activist RNs and to mitigate the potential detrimental effect of activism on mental health at times and/or circumstances of high workloads and personal stress.

Does a participatory live music practice support nurses to deliver compassionate care to hospitalised patients? A qualitative study

AIM

To gain more insight into how nurses experience a participatory live music practice in relation to their ability to deliver compassionate care to medically hospitalised patients.

DESIGN

Qualitative interpretive design.

METHODS

Sixteen nurses participating in a live music practice with patients were interviewed using in-depth interviews with open-ended questions. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and subsequently coded. Theory-driven inductive and deductive approaches were applied in thematic data analysis.

RESULTS

We identified four themes: (1) Nurses' empathy and compassion; (2) The caring nurse-patient relationship; (3) Person-centred approaches to care and (4) Nurses' subjective wellbeing. By observing patients' reactions to the music, nurses described that they obtained a deeper insight and understanding of patients' emotional wellbeing. These observations led to increased feelings of compassion in patient contact and stimulated informal communication between nurses and patients through a sense of shared humanity. According to nurses, these aspects positively affected collaboration with patients in delivering care and stimulated them to pursue person-centred approaches to care. Participating in the live music practice also positively affected nurses' wellbeing, enhanced relaxation and created an ambiance in which compassion could be expressed.

CONCLUSION

A live music practice can positively contribute to the delivery of compassionate care by providing meaningful shared moments that increase feelings of empathy and compassion and strengthen the caring relationship.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION

Offering a live music practice at the ward and bedside offers a unique possibility to enhance engagement in person-centred, compassionate care.

IMPACT

While compassion and compassionate care are essential component of nursing, nurses often experience multiple barriers to its provision in daily practice. An innovative way to stimulate compassionate care is through the participation of nurses and patients in a live music practice, providing a meaningful moment shared between them. This stimulates feelings of shared humanity and bonding in the caring relationship.

REPORTING METHOD

The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ). No Patient or Public Contribution.

Trauma surgeons experience compassion fatigue: A major metropolitan area survey

INTRODUCTION

Compassion fatigue (CF), the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others, is composed of three domains: compassion satisfaction (CS), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout (BO). Trauma surgeons (TSs) experience work-related stress resulting in high rates of CF, which can manifest as physical and psychological disorders. We hypothesized that TSs experience CF and there are potentially modifiable systemic factors to mitigate its symptoms.

METHODS

All TSs in a major metropolitan area were eligible. Personal and professional demographic information was obtained. Each participant completed six validated surveys: (1) Professional Quality of Life scale, (2) Perceived Stress Scale, (3) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, (4) Adverse Childhood Events Questionnaire, (5) Brief Coping Inventory, and (6) Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. Compassion fatigue subscale risk scores (low, <23; moderate, 23-41; high, >41) were recorded. Linear regression analysis assessed the demographic and environmental factors association with BO, STS, and CS. Variables significant on univariate analysis were included in multivariate models to determine the independent influence on BO, STS, and CS. Significance was p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

There were 57 TSs (response rate, 75.4% [n = 43]; White, 65% [n = 28]; male, 67% [n = 29]). Trauma surgeons experienced CF (BO, 26 [interquartile range (IQR), 21-32]; STS, 23 [IQR, 19-32]; CS, 39 [IQR, 34-45]). The Perceived Stress Scale score was significantly associated with increased BO (coefficient [coef.], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.77) and STS (coef., 0.44; 95% CI, 0.15-0.73), and decreased CS (coef., -0.51; 95% CI, -0.80 to -0.23) ( p < 0.01). Night shifts were associated with higher BO (coef., 1.55; 95% CI, 0.07-3.03; p = 0.05); conversely, day shifts were associated with higher STS (coef., 1.94; 95% CI, 0.32-3.56; p = 0.03). Higher Toronto Empathy Questionnaire scores were associated with greater CS (coef., 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.55; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Trauma surgeons experience moderate BO and STS associated with modifiable system- and work-related stressors. Efforts to reduce CF should focus on addressing sources of workplace stress and promoting empathic care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Support Needs of Labor and Delivery Nurses After Traumatic Experiences

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of psychological distress, overall distress, and institutional support following a traumatic workplace event on absenteeism, turnover intention, and resilience among labor and delivery nurses.

DESIGN

A quantitative cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Online distribution from January 13, 2021, to February 2, 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

A nationwide convenience sample of labor and delivery nurses recruited from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (N = 171).

METHODS

Participants completed a survey that included the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool-Revised and the Second Victim Support Desirability survey. We compared available versus desired support options using descriptive analyses. We examined levels of psychological distress and lack of institutional support in relation to turnover intention, absenteeism, and resilience using multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Participants identified and described various traumatic experiences in the workplace, including neonatal and maternal death, complicated births, and workplace violence. Participants indicated that the available support services did not meet their needs. Psychological distress, overall distress, and lack of institutional support were associated with absenteeism and turnover, whereas only institutional support was associated with resilience.

CONCLUSION

Labor and delivery nurses encounter various traumatic events in the workplace, and the support services provided after an event do not meet their needs. Additional research is needed to understand the scope of the problem and investigate best practices to assist labor and delivery nurses following traumatic events.

The Relationship Between Secondary Traumatic Stress and Compassion Satisfaction: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review examines the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction (CS) to identify the state of the science and directions for future research. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis framework was used to guide the identification and evaluation of studies. Eight academic databases were systematically searched between July and December of 2022 to identify articles and dissertations published in English or Hebrew between 2000 and 2022. Studies were considered for inclusion if they examined the relationship between STS and CS and met an established quality threshold. If studies used a mixed methods approach, only quantitative results were included in the review. The search strategy yielded 537 studies with 33 included in the final review. Findings of this review suggest experiences of high levels of STS can coexist with high levels of CS indicating that people can gain satisfaction from their work and experience STS. Most studies examined the relationship between STS and CS using bivariate analyses with variability found in the direction of the relationship. This variability was also found in multivariate studies included in this review. These findings suggest the need for interventions to address both STS and CS with attention paid to the potential negative impact of emotional contagion and the vulnerability of younger female practitioners. Future research should pay attention to the rigor of the analysis of STS and CS and the exploration of mediating or moderating mechanisms between these constructs.

A Scoping Review of Compassion Fatigue Among Oncology Nurses Caring for Adult Patients

BACKGROUND

Oncology nurses have frequent contact with oncology patients during their cancer journey. This long-term, recurrent contact can impact the health and well-being of the nurse through the development of compassion fatigue (CF).

OBJECTIVES

To identify what contributes to CF and what individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors mitigate CF among oncology nurses caring for adult patients.

METHODS

A scoping review framework by Arksey and O'Malley guided this review. Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. A blinded screening process was undertaken by the authors using the following inclusion criteria: English language published from January 2011 to December 2021, primary research peer-reviewed studies, and focusing on CF within oncology nurses caring for adult patients in any practice setting.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies (21 articles) were identified. The review found nurses' personal beliefs around nursing care being provided, and personality traits of psychological inflexibility, neuroticism, passive coping, and avoidance contributed to CF. Workplace conflict and lack of a healthy work-life balance also contributed to CF. However, nurses' personal resilience, ability to positively reflect upon their work, a supportive team environment, and continuing education were found to mitigate CF.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of CF vary among oncology nurses caring for adult patients. Oncology nurses may benefit from personal and organizational resources aimed at improving oncology nurses' professional quality of life while decreasing CF.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Consideration and future research of effective interventions are needed to sustain a future health workforce and mitigate CF among oncology nurses.

Impact of heartfulness meditation practice compared to the gratitude practices on wellbeing and work engagement among healthcare professionals: Randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Heartfulness meditation practice, compared to Gratitude practice, leads to measurable changes in mental wellbeing among healthcare providers across the US.

METHOD

Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following 6-week interventions: the trainer-guided virtual Heartfulness meditation program or the podcast-based self-guided gratitude practice group. The Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 (ProQOL-5) was used to determine Compassion Satisfaction (CS) and risk for Burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS). The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) was used to assess vigor, dedication, and absorption at work. Outcomes were collected at baseline and the end of the study period. Qualitative questions regarding the experience of learning and practicing were also offered at the end of the six weeks.

RESULTS

The majority of participants were nurses (50%), followed by allied healthcare professionals (37%) and physicians (13%) (N = 83). There was a general trend towards increases in CS in the Heartfulness group compared to the gratitude group. However, this was not statistically significant. Strong evidence suggests there was a significant improvement in BO for the Heartfulness group between Week 0 and Week 6 (p = 0.002), as well as STS (p = 0.0004) and vigor (p = 0.0392). Qualitative data analysis revealed that the subjects in the Heartfulness arm reported improved sleep and decreased reactivity to stress. Subjects in the gratitude arm reported improved mood and favorable results using gratitude practices at home with family members.

CONCLUSION

In our study, Heartfulness meditation practice was associated with a significant improvement in burnout and vigor at work, with a trend towards compassion satisfaction after six weeks compared with gratitude practices. Qualitative analysis indicates the benefits of both Heartfulness and Gratitude practices. Further randomized trials with a larger sample size are needed to explore these science-based practices for the wellbeing of healthcare workers.

Self-compassion training in palliative care during COVID-19: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES

This pilot project replicated a self-compassion program to support health-care professionals in palliative care settings. We anticipated that undertaking this program would enhance participants' psychological well-being.

METHODS

Participants were recruited by convenience sampling from palliative care services in an area of Melbourne, Australia. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was offered online and comprised six once-weekly gatherings. Three survey rounds with identical questions were conducted prior to, immediately after, and 3 months after the training. The surveys consisted of 6 scales: the Self-Compassion Scale, the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale, the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Scale. Paired-sample t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance analyses were used to compare participant responses.

RESULTS

Nine participants working in palliative care completed the training and 3 surveys and included qualitative responses. The experience was overwhelmingly positive. Self-compassion (F = 14.44; p < 0.05) and mindfulness (F = 18.44; p < 0.05) scores significantly increased post-training, were picked up in a short time and endured. The emotional state improved by compassion satisfaction, showing a positive improvement 3 months post-training, along with there being no changes in compassion satisfaction, burnout, and dispositional empathy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Participants all worked in a supportive environment, which encouraged self-care. Even against the pandemic difficulties, a short online program was effective, assisting participants to cultivate their inner resources in mindfulness and self-compassion. While a small sample size, expansion of the training may benefit the wider palliative care workforce.

How Mental Health Nurses Report Their Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Study and the Implications for Healthcare Leaders

Compassion fatigue is the cost of caring for others in emotional pain where the helping professional absorbs the trauma of those they help and cannot detach emotionally at the end of the day. Stressful and perceived unsupportive work environments may leave the caregiver at a heightened risk for compassion fatigue. To study the level of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction experienced by mental health nurses. A descriptive, cross-sectional, electronic survey design was utilized. The Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 was used. The study was conducted at a large, urban hospital that exclusively treats patients with mental health and addiction issues located in Ontario, Canada. The sample included all nurses who were listed on the hospital's Email list. All nurses who are displayed on this list are mental health nurses. Analyses were conducted to assess for differences between the characteristics and the subscales of professional quality of life. One hundred and forty-eight mental health nurses completed a questionnaire. The response rate was 21%. Seventy-six percent reported moderate levels of burnout, 59% reported moderate levels of secondary traumatic stress, and 21% reported high levels of compassion satisfaction. Predictors were seen for the characteristics of gender, ethnicity, marital status, area, exposure to violence and support felt. Compassion fatigue has clear implications. Organizations willing to invest in reducing it, have the potential to improve patient outcomes and the well-being of nurses. The majority of mental health nurses reported moderate levels for each of the subscales.