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Do You Have Compassion Fatigue?

Many nurses begin a career in the medical field because they have an empathic nature and love helping people. However, becoming overworked might lead to nursing burnout and a concept known as compassion fatigue. Importantly, managing things before it adversely affects patient care remains critical for both nurses and nursing managers.

 

So let’s look more closely at an important issue in nursing that might cause harm to your own health. Notably, a recent study reveals nurses suffering from burnout miss shifts three times as much as other nursing professionals. Check out these tips on managing compassion fatigue to mitigate the problem before patient care or your career suffers.

 

Work With Your Fellow Nurses to Recognize Signs of Burnout in Each Other

 

Not surprisingly, your coworkers, including fellow nurses and other medical professionals, provide a great resource for fighting burnout. Work together to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue. Regularly contact each other to see how everyone is managing their current workloads. In this era of long shifts, adopting this approach keeps the adverse effects of burnout to a minimum.

 

Self-Care is Important For Any Nurse

 

Of course, maintaining your own mental and physical health goes a long way in preventing compassion fatigue. Be sure to keep a healthy diet while exercising regularly. A meditation session or two each day also helps to keep your stress levels as low as possible. Even using pranayama breathing exercises when you get a quick shift break serves to manage stress.

 

Ask For a Break in Your Schedule When Necessary

 

When working a tough week filled with 12-hour shifts, you probably need to take a break. Speak with your nursing manager and ask for some time off whenever you feel overworked and burned-out. Once again, taking a proactive approach to your own well-being ultimately makes you a more effective nurse. This includes taking regular breaks in your schedule.

 

Take Advantage of Your Employer’s Resources for Stress Management

 

Many hospitals and medical employers offer helpful resources for nurses to handle compassion fatigue and burnout. Speak with your manager about the availability of any Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for stress management. Your employer might even offer instructor-led meditation and dietary programs to help you manage your health. Take advantage of these resources to ensure you stay productive and focused on every shift.

 

If you want to take your medical career to a higher level, connect with the experts at CHN Health Care Group. As one of the top nursing staffing agencies in Boston, we know the hospitals looking for top-shelf nursing candidates. Connect with us as soon as possible!

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