Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques

Submission in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: When compassion fatigue occurs, nurses have reduced capacity to empathize with others while in a caring role. This frequently is the after effect of extended exposure to the suffering of others simultaneous to extended self-sacrifice.

Local problem: Pediatric nurses have unique challenges related to compassionate nursing care and experience compassion fatigue due to extended exposure to life-limiting diagnoses and intense emotions. Nurses providing care in pediatric acute care, pediatric intermediate care, and neonatal intensive care were invited to participate in this compassion fatigue reduction project.

Methods: Volunteer project participants self-selected engagement in the project intervention. Participants completed a pre-intervention and post-implementation ProQOLv5 survey to evaluate levels of compassion fatigue in each of the participant groups evaluated. Interventions: Participants engaged in a weekly evidence-based self-care bundle including mindfulness, physical activity, creative outlets, and peers support for eight weeks. Participants were provided prompts, reminders, and suggestions aligned to the bundle each week.

Results: Twenty-nine nurses participants participated in the pre-intervention survey. The mean compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary trauma stress scores (STS) were 36, 23, and 27 respectively. Ten nurses participated in the post-intervention survey. The mean CS, BO, and STS scores were 39.3, 22.3, and 25.8 respectively.

Conclusions: The self-care bundle intervention demonstrated an increase in CS, a decrease in BO, and a decrease in STS. Nurse leaders should continue to evaluate evidence to support nurses experiencing compassion fatigue.

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Work Title Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Jill Arnold
Keyword
  1. Doctor of Nursing Practice
  2. Compassion fatigue
  3. Pediatrics
  4. Nurse
  5. Self-care
  6. Bundle
License No Copyright - U.S.
Work Type Project
Acknowledgments
  1. Dr. Shari Hrabovsky, D.Ed, MSN, FNP-BC, committee chair
  2. Dr. Kristen Bransby, DNP, CRNP, CPCP-PC, PMHS, committee member
  3. Dr. Mariya Tankimovich, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, CNE, committee member
Publication Date 2022
Deposited April 08, 2022

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Version 1
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  • Updated Acknowledgments Show Changes
    Acknowledgments
    • Dr. Shari Hrabovsky, D.Ed, MSN, FNP-BC, committee chair , Dr. Kristen Bransby, DNP, CRNP, CPCP-PC, PMHS, committee member, Dr. Mariya Tankimovich, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, CNE, committee member
  • Added Creator Jill Arnold
  • Added JArnold Final Document.docx
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  • Added Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques.docx
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    License
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Version 2
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  • Added Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques.pdf
  • Deleted Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques.pdf
  • Deleted Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques.docx
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  • Updated Work Title, Keyword, Description Show Changes
    Work Title
    • Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Technqiues
    • Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques
    Keyword
    • Doctor of Nursing Practice, Compassion fatigue, Pediatrics, Nurse, Self-care, Bundle
    Description
    • Submission in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • Abstract
    • Background: When compassion fatigue occurs, nurses have reduced capacity to empathize with others while in a caring role. This frequently is the after effect of extended exposure to the suffering of others simultaneous to extended self-sacrifice.
    • Local problem: Pediatric nurses have unique challenges related to compassionate nursing care and experience compassion fatigue due to extended exposure to life-limiting diagnoses and intense emotions. Nurses providing care in pediatric acute care, pediatric intermediate care, and neonatal intensive care were invited to participate in this compassion fatigue reduction project.
    • Methods: Volunteer project participants self-selected engagement in the project intervention. Participants completed a pre-intervention and post-implementation ProQOLv5 survey to evaluate levels of compassion fatigue in each of the participant groups evaluated.
    • Interventions: Participants engaged in a weekly evidence-based self-care bundle including mindfulness, physical activity, creative outlets, and peers support for eight weeks. Participants were provided prompts, reminders, and suggestions aligned to the bundle each week.
    • Results: Twenty-nine nurses participants participated in the pre-intervention survey. The mean compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary trauma stress scores (STS) were 36, 23, and 27 respectively. Ten nurses participated in the post-intervention survey. The mean CS, BO, and STS scores were 39.3, 22.3, and 25.8 respectively.
    • Conclusions: The self-care bundle intervention demonstrated an increase in CS, a decrease in BO, and a decrease in STS. Nurse leaders should continue to evaluate evidence to support nurses experiencing compassion fatigue.
  • Updated

Version 3
published

  • Created
  • Deleted Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques.pdf
  • Added Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Pediatric Nurses Using Bundled Self-Care Techniques_Redacted.pdf
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