Premium Essay

Coompassion Fatigue

In:

Submitted By nelkhats
Words 307
Pages 2
http://www.freelancer123.com/user/essaywriter2012

Health providers suffer from an emotional problem called compassion fatigue. Often times compassion fatigue occurs do to the situations encountered by health care professionals and the pain they feel for the patients they care for. One of the essential components of health care is providing care is compassion

Compassion is one of the fundamental characteristics implemented into patient care by health care providers. Compassion signifies “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering” (Compassion, n.d.). Nurses and other health care providers provide selfless service, tireless dedication, compassion, and often neglect their personal needs, which makes them susceptible to experience an emotional problem called compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue has been described as a state experienced by those helping people in distress; it is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can be traumatizing for the helper” (). Compassion fatigue results in the health care provider becoming compassionately numb.

The five major concepts of compassion fatigue are cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, and somatic. Warning signs to be aware of for each of the concepts are described below.

Cognitive
One will also experience a decrease in self-esteem and self worth. The ability to concentrate and focus on the tasks at hand become increasing difficult, thus impacting the health care providers ability to perform their duties. Colleagues will notice a decrease in work performance. Changes in ones work performance that may occur are decreased motivation, absenteeism, negativity, and low morale. Often times the person experiencing compassion fatigue becomes preoccupied

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Microbio Inflenza

...Module 8: Internet Search: Influenza Log on to the web site for the Centers for Disease Control Flu site. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ On the right side of the page of, there is a USA map. Click on the USA maps to answer the following questions. List a few states that currently have only local activity? _ Puerto Rico and Massachusetts _______________________ What states if any have widespread activity? _None____________________________ What is Indiana’s status? Sporadic________________ Click on the world map. What is the international situation right now? The influenza activity in the northern hemisphere is at interseasonal levels. In Central America the influenza levels are high with decreasing trends. In Asia influenza activity has decreased, except for India and Viet Nam. In the southern hemisphere the influenza levels increased in South America and in Southern Africa. Is there a particular part of the world where flu is currently active: If so, where? _Yes, there is plus 30% of positive influenza in Mexico right now according to the map. ________________________________________________________________________ Return to the home page and click on the Flu Basics button in the topics box. There will be a list of topics. Scroll down to and click on the topic Seasonal Flu and Staph Infections Information about flu and staph infections, MRSA… What is MRSA? MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant S. aureus What is the threat to children? _These infections are very dangerous...

Words: 378 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Two Jobs

...The Advantages and Disadvantages of Two Jobs My neighbor Sue lives in a nice house and has two luxurious cars in the driveway. Her overtime hours at work are being eliminated, so the money she is used to making is becoming less. So, Sue must decide whether or not to take on a second job to live the way she is accustomed to. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages in working two jobs. Before deciding on working two jobs, it would be a good idea to consider these positives and negatives. We should consider the benefits in deciding to have two jobs. The main reason for working two jobs is to provide enough income to survive and pay the bills. The additional income might make a difference in paying for a certain quality of life that someone is accustomed to living. In working two jobs, there is an opportunity to improve your skills in different areas. Sometimes the skills learned in the second job can improve the skills for the primary job. People may develop entirely different skills from the second job. You may have a competitive edge from working two jobs in the job market because you may have different skills to bring to your new job. You may have better experience than someone else has making you a more desirable candidate. Working two jobs provides more networking opportunities and interacting with more people. This could provide you with additional references and recommendations for future jobs. As a result of working two jobs, people develop stronger...

Words: 658 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Thesis

...leads to partial awakening and restless sleep. At night, some people like to drink caffeinated drinks to keep them awake. Thus, I usually use caffeine to keep me alert, complete my work and study during examination and in the hope of achieving the best in class. Sometime I drink coffee for the extra boost in the morning, to help me get through the day without getting drowsiness. There is a close relationship between depression and sleep deprivation. A lack of sleep saps our energy, makes you irritable and sucks all the joy from our lives. However it will increase risk of mistakes or accidents in our working lives. Sometime we could even lose our jobs because of it. Sleep deprivation not only makes us tiredness, fatigue and depression but also makes us fat. Our metabolism will not function properly when we are sleep...

Words: 337 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Market

...I accompanied my mother to the central market to buy some groceries that she needed for the coming New Year. When we arrived at the market we could not find a place to park the car. So we waited patiently for about ten minutes before someone vacated a parking space and we moved in. Coming to the market just before a festive season was not a pleasant experience. The whole town seemed to be there. Everyone had things to buy. So the prices of things shot up. Worst of all, we had to struggle to get these things. So we made our way carefully through the various sections buying vegetables, meat, fish, noodles, spices and other food stuffs. We had wanted to buy some prawns too but they were all sold out, despite their sky-high price. The bags got heavier and heavier. The crowd got thicker and thicker. The noise and heat was overwhelming. As we had nearly done all the shopping, I told my mother that I would wait for her at the car. I could not stand being among hundreds of aggressive shoppers anymore. I lugged the bags wearily to the car and breathed a sigh of relief when I reached it. The air smelled sweet and cool. I was glad to be outside. Fifteen minutes later my mother emerged from the market. She looked exhausted. We put the groceries in the boot, got into the car and drove off with the air-conditioner at full...

Words: 251 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Ethics

...1 Classification and Division Essay Coughing, sneezing, fevers, body aches- all things we dread when we are sick. Being sick is never fun and we are always trying to find new remedies and treatments to ease the discomfort and rid the sickness from our bodies as quick as possible rather than just waiting for it to run its course. These illnesses can be both viral and bacterial. Because I have been diagnosed with double pneumonia three times in the past I have learned from talking with my doctor that viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics whereas bacterial infections can. There is still no cure for the common cold and although the flu and pneumonia can be treated with medications it is still wise to keep hydrated and rested until the symptoms pass. Through past experience with these illnesses as well as talking with my doctor about these subjects I have discovered many different specifications of each individual illness such as symptoms, complications, and proper treatment and prevention methods. Viral infections are the most common illnesses that we face. The Latin meaning for the word virus as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is toxin or poison. Your body recognizes viruses as intruders in the body and all of the complications that you face while sick, such as a runny nose, are the body’s mechanisms to get rid of them. But what most of us don’t know is that some viral infections are incurable, while others require specific medication and treatment, I...

Words: 1346 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Combating Compassion Fatigue

...Combating Compassion Fatigue Kadijatu Lewis Grand Canyon University: HLT.310V April 14th, 2013 Nursing is an emotional, physical spiritual and hard work. It is also rewarding and most times satisfying. Nurses witness pain and suffering of others daily, resulting in increase risk for emotional stress. Nurses also work under demanding conditions related to budget constraints, and short staff resulting in increase workload. Compassion fatigue is the last stage of compassion discomfort and compassion stress. The nursing profession does not provide adequate resources to help combat this condition, like other professionals who deal with similar situations. This paper will identify signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue and ways of combating them. Compassionate fatigue is an emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion from witnessing and absorbing the problems and suffering of others. Compassionate fatigue usually affect selfless, caring and sacrificing nurses who are emotional attached to their jobs. It usually comes on gradually. It usually occurs when a caregiver attempts to give out more compassion and energy than they are getting in return. When we exhibit compassion fatigue, our natural human desire to help is significantly diminished (Frandsen, 2010) Compassion fatigue manifest itself in different ways, these include feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm with ones assignment before the start of shift, this feeling occurs...

Words: 1031 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Depression

...Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. It is normal for a teenager to feel sad or have uneasy feelings. When it doesn’t go away or stop, that is when it becomes a problem. It is actually more common in teens to go through depression. Grades, school, social status with peers, family, or life are some of the reasons why someone can be depressed. Holden Caulfield, from the story “The Catcher in the Rye”, was depressed because of some of these causes. He wasn’t able to find happiness and had severe guilt. The symptoms for depression can be really easy to spot. It is a change in behavior that you may see in someone. Depression symptoms can be different for every person. The more symptoms you have, and the longer you have them will more likely be that you are going through depression. All the symptoms will vary depending on what a teenager is going through. These are symptoms of depression: feeling hopelessness, appetite or weight changes, sleep changes, anger or irritability, self-loathing, concentration problems, and unexplained aches or pains. Other symptoms are excessive feeling of guilt, skipping school, sudden drop in grades, withdrawal from friends, and feeling sadness. Just like the way there are different causes for depression, there are also different way people will get treated for this. What may work for one person might not work for someone else. It will take time for...

Words: 716 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Hlth400: Unit 4 Discussion Board

...Grade Received, "A" Information systems will definitely alter the way that healthcare organizations are structured. Information systems were made to aide a business in having an aggressive lead over competition by giving support and helping to shape the makeup and strategies of the business. Upgrades to information technologies have raised the productiveness of healthcare services as well as employees because an advance in technology lowers the usage of paper records. These alterations in technology enable data to be distributed and reserved in exceptional ways, enabling information to be traced, evaluated, and exhausted in a manner that aides in delivering more competent care. Due to the type of data that is attainable via healthcare information systems, the makeup of the healthcare business will conform in consensus to the pertinent information systems. These systems will not only affect direct-care services like doctors and nurses, but will also alter non direct-care fields like analysis and growth, invoices, medical records, and more (Fottler, Ford, & Heaton, 2010). Fundamental alterations due to information systems are inescapable because of the alterations in how the data is acquired, reserved, and fetched. Information systems are intended to reply to inquiries. Nurses might exhaust upgraded systems to keep track of patients’ vitals; thus, altering the method of how care is given as well as the effectiveness of responses to the failing health of hospitalized consumers...

Words: 333 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Paper

...Demographic Information- Katie is a 16-year old Hispanic female. She is a student in the 10th grade. She has no work history. She lives with her bio parents. Her father is significantly older than her mother, approximately 20-year age difference. They have been married for 22 years. She is an only child. They live in an urban area, low-income. Presenting Problem- Katie’s parents referred her for not completing chores, being disrespectful, grades slipping, beginning to dress in all black and listen to hard rock music, etc. Katie reported she thought the presenting problem was that she didn’t want to be around anyone, triggered by her parents’ fighting. History of the Presenting Problem- few months, she has never seen a therapist before. Diagnosis- adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Was not depressed before her parents began fighting. Treatment Planning – Katie will increase communication with her parents, demonstrated by a 10-minute conversation, 5 out of 7 days, for 2 consistent weeks. Katie will keep a thought record for each day and review with the counselor at the following session. Katie will increase her interactions with peers by initiating a conversation with a peer at least 3 out of 5 days. Katie will identify 3 coping skills she can use when she is distressed, and practice the skills in sessions 4/5 opportunities. Use creative therapies because she does not like to talk openly about how she feels. Ethics Section- She was referred...

Words: 398 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

A Sunny Day in Bryant Park

...A Sunny Day in Bryant Park Today was sunny, neither cold nor hot. After lunch, I hung out to Bryant Park to relax myself. There were a large number of people at that time due to the brilliant weather, I supposed. Nearly all the positions were occupied. Some were chatting with each other during the lunch time, happily and breezily. While some young boys enjoyed themselves going skating or playing tennis. Others, especially some old men and women would rather take nap in the leisure time. Under the heavy pressure in my studies, in fact, seldom had I observed people so carefully like this. In most cases, I always passed by the park as quickly as I could to save the time. It seemed that everyone had his own story and in different moods. It interested me a lot. While I was walking with no aim and destination, a slim woman with blonde hair suddenly caught my eye. Sitting on a chair at the corner of the park with an elegant posture and wearing headphones while indulging herself in the books, she frowned suddenly just like coming across some problems. A formal suit, a pair of delicate high heels, black coat on the chair. All these indicated that she was an office lady. Drinking a cup of Starbucks while skimming through the documents, she pulled the beautiful long black hair gently from time to time. She might work in the office not far away and have some tasks to deal with, which should have been finished in the morning. In the light of the exhaustion shown on her face, I thought...

Words: 513 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Parable of Sadhu

...Parable of the Sadhu Introduction: The Parable of the Sadhu is the story of a man, Bowen McCoy, who traversed the Himalaya Mountains on a business sabbatical program. On his journey he encounters a sadhu (an Indian holy man) who has passed out from exhaustion on the path. He checks the man’s pulse and gets the others in his group to help him out, and carries on. When he reached the top, the rest of his team caught up to him and informed him that they did not take the sadhu all the way down to the village, and are not sure whether he lived or died. Dilemma: Bowen’s decision was based on many factors. Some of these factors were personal, such as his own physical fatigue, his goal to reach the summit, and the fact that this opportunity was “once-in-a-lifetime” (Curtis, 156). Other factors included the fatigue of his fellow climbers, the danger of the pass, the advise of his team and, most importantly, the well being of the sadhu. While reading this article, I found Bowen’s decision to be mostly based on his own personal issues. Although he rationalized his decision later with his fears of the other members of the group’s heath and the fact that the pass may not be passable later, I had the feeling that deep down that’s not why he pushed ahead. I believe that he, somewhat selfishly, was only interested in finishing the climb for his own personal gain and for his ego. Evidence of this lies in his exhilaration of reaching the top, even an hour later when he sees Stephen,...

Words: 578 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Popular Hobbies and Interest Change over Time Are More Reflection of Trends and Fashion

...Sports and games are very important for us. They keep us healthy and fit. They offer us a change from the monotony of daily life. It is a useful means of entertainment and physical activity. Sports and games help in character building. They give us energy and strength. Sports and games are means of mental and physical growth. During sports we come to learn many things. We learn how to maintain mental balance in the midst of hopes and despair. They make us learn how to tackle the difficult situation. Sports develop a sense of friendliness. They develop in us team spirit. They help in developing mental and physical toughness. They shape our body and make it strong and active. They give us energy and strength. They remove tiredness and lethargy. They improve blood circulation. This improves our physical well-being. Sports and games improve our capability. They improve our efficiency. Either study or work alone makes us exhaust. We remain no longer efficient to do any work. Sports remove our mental exhaustion. Sports are integral part of education. Education without sports is incomplete. Keeping their value in life, children are taught some sorts of games in the very early stage in school. These days’ sports are a part of academic curricula. Sports are particularly important for the youth. They help in their physical and mental growth. They contribute in the formation of character. They inculcate in them good values. It is therefore, sports competition is held at school and college...

Words: 402 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Enginering

...in some cases, hand calculations are the easiest. Background: We have been given the task to design a shaft to specific guidelines using inch size pillow blocks. We will perform appropriate calculations using modeling techniques and verify the design in SolidWorks FEA program. The problem is 7-5 in the book and is shown below: The problem statement: A geared industrial roll shown in the figure is driven at 300 rev/ min by force F acting on a 3-in-diamter pitch circle as shown. The roll exerts a normal force of 30 lbf/in of roll length on the material being pulled through. The material passes under the roll. Design a shaft for the situation of the industrial roll with a design factor of 2 and a reliability goal of 0.999 against fatigue failure. Pick a shaft size that does not deflect greater than 2”. We have been given this problem to see how we will approach a design problem like this and I hope I have approached it correctly. I plan to figure out all of the statics, and back solve for a diameter using a factor of...

Words: 856 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Adjustment and Stress Disorder

...Adjustment and Stress Disorder An adjustment disorder or (AD) is a psychological response to a stressor or stressors that are identifiable and result in the formation and growth of clinically significant, emotional or behavioral symptoms. The symptoms displayed by a person who suffers from this disorder share similar symptoms as depressed people. As a result this disorder is sometimes referred to as situational depression. There are five criterions that are to be met for Adjustment and Stress Disorder to be accurately diagnosed. As it pertains to the diagnostic features of this disorder, symptoms must develop within 3 months after the onset of the stressor(s) (Criterion A). The clinical significance of the reaction is indicated by marked distress (the excess that would be anticipated given the nature of the stressor or stressors) or by significant impairment in social or occupational functioning (Criterion B). What this means is a reaction to a stressor that might be considered normal or expectable can still qualify for a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder if the reaction is sufficiently severe to cause significant impairment. This category should not be used if the stress-related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another specific Axis I disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a preexisting Axis I or Axis II disorder. In Criterion D the symptoms do not represent Bereavement. Finally in Criterion E, once the stressor (or its consequences) has been terminated, the...

Words: 574 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Business

...Fear of failure: *One of the greatest fears people has. *Thomas Edison 1. What am I really afraid of? 2. What is holding me back? 3. What is the payoff? *Law of feedback- There is no failure there is only feedback 1. Take action 2. Learn to act boldly 3. Be persistent 4. Don’t take failure personally (Were all going to fail at some point) 5.Treat the experiences an opportunity to learn 6.Fail forward fast Student under stress: Take a 1-10 min walk/run everyday Sit in silence for at least 10 mins a day (meditation) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, “My purpose is too _____ today” Live with the 3 e’s energy, enthusiasm, empathy Play more games Spend more time with people over 70 & under the age of 6 Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants. Eat fewer foods made in the plants. Meet at least 3 people that make you smile Clear the clutter of your house/office etc. Try to pay an honest compliment to someone you normally wouldn’t do that too Life isn’t fair but its still good Forgive everybody for the things they do. The best is yet to come, do the right thing *Representational System Thinkers Visual Feelers *Staleness & Burnout Coaches realize and take tole Prolonged stress Shame & Doubt Long term exhaustion and diminished interest *What? Create heart disease Anemia Muscle deterioration Lethargy Create infertility *Bulimia Intestinal dodorders Electrolyte imbalances Enamel detriataion ...

Words: 267 - Pages: 2