Compassion Fatigue Four Stages Article III

Compassion Fatigue is plaguing health care systems internationally.
What is compassion fatigue? see article Compassion Fatigue; tired of caring. This article discribes the symptoms of health care giver fatigue, and why it is so important to find ways to overcome care giver fatigue. There are four stages of care giver fatigue but there is hope for this growing problem.

Do you find yourself criticizing or snapping back at others? Do you doubt others at their word? Similarly, are you more irritable with co-workers, colleagues, or others? Have you lost your patience? If so, you may be suffering from compassion fatigue. Here are four stages to understand and identify compassion fatigue.



1.The first stage of compassion fatigue may be symptoms that include a cynical, sarcastic, or critical attitude. Heathcare professionals can have a dark or morbid sense of humor when it comes to their patients and family members. This increases negativity in the work place and toward human beings, Like bacteria souring milk. Catching compassion fatigue at the first stage is most hopeful to manage. Like restarting an exercise program after a month vs. a year. There is much more sucess in regaining your zest for life.

2.The second stage is the physical emotional and mental exhaustion. Physically having the energy and motivation to complete the job is a challenge. Mentally looking for ways to conserve energy by possibly cutting corners, experiencing increasing job disatisfaction. Feeling a sense of isolation at work. Feeling the loss of support in the workplace by coworkers, assistants, managers and support staff. This stage can lead to physical health problems such as headaches and stomach ulcers, elevated blood pressure. A decrease in the immune system may occur, increasing susceptibility to colds and flu. This stage is increasingly difficult to manage because the loss of interest in healthy coping skills and relaxation. There may be an increase in poor coping skills in this stage, such as drugs, alcohol or stress eating.

This second stage, compounded with the negativity and dark humor can lead to the third stage of compassion fatigue.

3.The third stage is anger. Resentment toward peers, manager for percieved lack of support. Frustration toward patients and their family members. Lack of satisfaction in job. Mentally measuring your self worth by your “internal job satisfaction barometer”. Thoughts wrestling with idealism and dissillusionment of the health care field. Percieved barriers to completing job tasks and questioning self in career choice. Underlying this anger is self doubt.

4.The fourth stage is the recovery stage. this is the stage of hope and regeneration.This is the journey of discovering the balance between the reality of the job and the ideals you had when you started your career. The fouth stage allows one to follow the journey of self acceptance and self love. Possibly redefining your disenchantment and disillusionment of your career choice. This is the space you create to enjoy the things that rejuvenate you and allow you to recover from the exposure to career stress. Remembering your initial reasons for joining the health care team, to help! Your next shift starts with a renewed sense of purpose. There is something inside you that keeps you on this path in healthcare and you start your shift refreshed.

These four stages are different from what I have read in my research. Awareness when things start to sour in you attitude and work performance can help you stop the process of the four stages of compassion fatigue and encourage you to create space, recovery and self acceptance.



©2009-2015 Works of AnnChristine Warneka, BSN,RN. Ann Warneka is the Executive Director of Nurse Guardian, LLC. Ann is a Life Coach and professional speaker specializing in Health care and care giver Life ownership. Nurse Guardian offers professional seminars on Training the Trainer in Health Care Compassion Fatigue Management and Total Life Ownership. Nurse Guardian can be reached at nurseguardian@gmail.com, nurseguardian.blogspot.com, Life Coaching can be done face to face via Skype.com from anywhere in the world.