Skip to main content

Commentary: Compassion Fatigue and COVID-19-The Chronic Condition of the Helper

It’s April 12,2020. You are not reading an Orwellian novel. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on 1/22/2020 in Washington State. Eighty days later, the Untied States has reported 555,313 cases, and 22,020 deaths. Who was there from the beginning? Nurses.

Nurses care but at what expense? COVID-19 sheds the spotlight on a well-known chronic condition in nursing- compassion fatigue. Since the very beginning of this pandemic, nurses’ lives have been a constant cycle of caring for critically ill patients; fighting to save each one; watching patients decompensate; mourning; clocking out after a 12-16hr shifts and returning to the bedside the next day. This continuous loop is unsustainable. Nurses are suffering from compassion fatigue.

Compassion fatigue is a state of exhaustion related to the constant exposure to trauma and/or illness. Nurses not only experience increased physical and mental exhaustion, but reductions in work satisfaction too. Can you imagine showing up to a proverbial “hot spot” with a garden hose? Despite nurses’ best efforts, they “spray” water on flames that rage uncontrollably. These nurses are not burnt out. Burnout and compassion fatigue are not the same. Burnout is throwing in the proverbial “towel.” Nurses have compassion fatigue.  They refuse to give up and care deeply. Their caring drives them to to show up for work in the midst of this pandemic.

To get an understanding of compassion fatigue, please watch this video. The nurses discuss patient care during this pandemic. Please click on the link below or copy and paste it in your browser. Scroll down to review the video

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/blog/2020-04-09-coronavirus-news-n1179786/ncrd1180826#blogHeader

Hopefully, this video offers greater insight about compassion fatigue. As you can see, nurses are showing up.  Yes, they “signed” up to care for the sick, but they are also human too.

Perhaps it’s time that the healthcare industry examine nurses’ value and contributions. Compassion fatigue is pervasive in nursing and other helping professions. It may be prudent to address this issue now because the impacts of COVID-19 will be long lasting. Who will the healthcare industry turn to if infection rates increase in the Fall or in 2021 if mitigation strategies fail? Will the healthcare industry expect nurses to continue to fight this battle armed with inadequate supplies and empathy? My last question is who will help the helpers?

Updated June 24, 2020- The United States death toll continues to climb. As of this writing, one hundred and twenty thousand Americans have died of COVID-19.  According to the CDC, 368 healthcare workers died of COVID-19 and over 10,000 have contracted the virus.   Nurses continue to work.

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2024 at 2:22 AM

    Great read! The connection between clear communication and leadership is often underestimated. This post does a fantastic job of breaking down why it's so crucial.
    Emotional wellness coaching

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2021 Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon

General thoughts about the Fort Ritchie Olympic Triathlon and the race experience.       On August 1, 2021, I participated in a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run. If you want stats, splits, watts, etc. you will find none of it here.    Why?    It’s not what is important to me in participating in triathlon. It’s not my why! I signed up for the local race in Cascade, Maryland because I knew it would challenge me mentally and physically. My expectations were to finish and learn.  This race was not wetsuit legal and a USAT championship series race.    I knew it would bring out some spectacular athletes from the area.    But I also knew this, I have never swam in open water without a wetsuit.    Never.    Stacy motto- Safety first.  I will not put myself or others at risk for me to race.    I quietly spoke to the race director and he nodded that I could do the race but would not race in my...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reflections on COVID-19 from Generation X

When you grow up with less, you learn how to make a dollar out 15 cents See Langston was right. Life ain’t no crystal stair and grit is only a new concept to the comfortable living high on Maslow’s hierarchy. See when you grow up with little, you can make something out of nothing. You know how to create calm in the chaos.  We know how to maximize with minimal. We’ve been living the game of Chutes and Ladders.  We’ve been watching those who sit securely in the cushy desks slide down the chute while others who have been the backbone of this nation climb up the ladder to save her. See Patti told us Your Ams to Short to box with God. She’s right you know But this is all about show Healthcare is a human right Nah, I’m not one to pick a fight But... Like Stevie said we living on the edge of.. COVID-19 So forgive me this may sound mean For all of those who were against Obamacare and said it was like Government cheese Give your check to essential workers please A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Workout with Friends-Nov. 2015

In November 2015, I decided to  sign up for 10 k. As I have stated before I don't particularly like races. They give me anxiety and I don't need them to validate me. I workout rigorously and regularly so my attitude toward races had to change.  So I decided to view them as workouts with friends. So there I was at the Bay Bridge 10k with thousands of runners. The weather was perfect. I saw a few familiar smiling faces from my local running club and Facebook. Attitude is everything. Regardless of the outcome, I was determined to have a great run and I did. I am not outcome focused in races, I focus on the process. Each step counts. I focus on each breathe and how my body feels. I felt great. There is nothing like visceral feedback. Did I care about my time? Nope. Did I have a great time. Yup . It was in that moment that I decided that I must do more workout with friends.
Post a Comment
Read more