compassion fatigue: caring for professional caregivers
Post on 11-Jan-2016
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Compassion Fatigue: Caring Compassion Fatigue: Caring for Professional Caregiversfor Professional Caregivers
Part I: Part I: Understanding Compassion Understanding Compassion
FatigueFatigue
The History of Compassion FatigueThe History of Compassion Fatigue
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is first included in the DSM III in 1980
Trauma may be experienced either “directly”
or “indirectly” (secondary traumatic stress) An evolution of names for secondary traumatic
stress including: Secondary Victimization, Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Trauma, and finally “Compassion Fatigue” which was coined by a nurse, Carla Joinson, in 1992
Compassion Fatigue Is Not Compassion Fatigue Is Not the Same As Burn Outthe Same As Burn Out
Burn out: a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by long term involvement in demanding circumstances
Burn out is a process, not a conditionOrigins are usually organizationalSymptoms are directly related to the cause
Compassion Fatigue Is Not Compassion Fatigue Is Not Counter-transferenceCounter-transference
The process of seeing oneself in the patientLimited to certain relationshipsTemporaryCompassion Fatigue is a cumulative process
that is felt beyond any particular relationship
Remembering “Sam”Remembering “Sam”
The professional work centered on the The professional work centered on the relief of emotional suffering of clients relief of emotional suffering of clients
automatically includes absorbing automatically includes absorbing information that is about suffering. Often information that is about suffering. Often
it includes that suffering as well.it includes that suffering as well.- - Charles Figley, 1995Charles Figley, 1995
Vulnerability for Compassion Vulnerability for Compassion FatigueFatigue
Exposure – daily barrage of traumatic material
Empathy – the greater the empathy the more effective the relationship and the greater the risk for Compassion Fatigue
Other factors include: emotional state, limited stress management, poor self care, poor support and spirituality
Emotional IndicatorsEmotional IndicatorsAnxiety / increased negative arousalNumbness / floodingLowered frustration tolerance / irritabilityGrief symptomsAngerSadnessDepression
Physical IndicatorsPhysical Indicators
Intrusive thoughts / imagesHeadachesGI symptomsInsomnia / nightmares / sleep disruptionsDecreased immune responseLethargyBecoming more accident prone
Personal IndicatorsPersonal IndicatorsPerceptive / assumptive world disturbancesDecrease in subjective sense of safetySelf isolationDifficulty separating work life from
personal lifeDiminished functioning in non-professional
circumstancesIncreases in in-effective or self destructive
self soothing behaviors
Work IndicatorsWork Indicators
Avoidance of certain patients / clientsHyper vigilant response to certain casesDiminished sense of purpose / enjoymentFeelings of therapeutic impotence
Spiritual IndicatorsSpiritual Indicators
Questioning the meaning of lifeQuestioning prior religious beliefsAnger at GodIncreased skepticism Loss of hope
Managing Compassion Managing Compassion FatigueFatigue
AAwarenesswareness
Being attuned to ones needs, limits, emotions and resources
Knowing your “renewal zones”Practicing mindfulnessAccepting and acknowledging that we are
changed by what we do
BBalancealance
Maintaining balance among our life activities – work, play, rest
Have a personal life!Pursue joyful activities
CConnectiononnection
To oneselfTo othersTo the bigger pictureConnection increases validation and hope
Jillian’s Coping StrategiesJillian’s Coping Strategies
Host a pickle eating contest
Go to the beach!
Part II:Part II:Caring for Professional Caring for Professional
CaregiversCaregivers
Why Spiritual Care?Why Spiritual Care?
Spiritual care of the “meaning maker”Chaplain as professional listenerRespected and viewed as agents of hopeAccess to various disciplines and units
within the institutionThe time to organize and offer staff support
Disciplines to includeDisciplines to include
RN’sPhysicians / medical interns & residentsSocial workersCounselorsRehab therapistsCPE studentsOther chaplains!
Formats for information and Formats for information and supportsupport
In-service sessionOrientation sessions: RNs, hospital staff,
interns and residentsIn lieu of / as part of a regularly scheduled
staff meetingLunch / break room Regularly scheduled support groups
Compassion Fatigue Compassion Fatigue In-ServiceIn-Service
Over view – differentiate from burn outSymptoms of Compassion FatigueThe ABCs of Compassion Fatigue
managementGive participants time to talk about it!Explain and offer the self Test for Helpers
And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
- Galatians 6:9- Galatians 6:9
God bless you!God bless you!
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