Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout among Nurses in the Emergency Department of Selected Tertiary Hospitals in Laguna

Abstract

AIM: To describe the level of awareness and determine the level of risk of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout among emergency department nurses in selected tertiary hospitals in Laguna and its correlation to demographic data, work environment, client environment, and personal environment.

METHOD: This study used an exploratory correlational research design to explore and determine the level of awareness of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout among nurses working in the emergency department of selected tertiary hospitals in Laguna. The research utilized exploratory surveys and questionnaire such as the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL) by Stamm (2012).

RESULT: Among 129 nurse respondents from the emergency departments of selected tertiary hospitals in Laguna, majority were working in private hospitals than public hospitals. Most of them were 20 – 29 years old, female, and mostly single. Majority of them have worked as a nurse and as an emergency room nurse for 0 – 5 years. The respondents worked for 32 hours or more per week and rendered overtime work for more than 16 hours or less. They also worked extra shifts of more than once per month. Given this work schedule, the respondents rarely engaged in physical activity. Furthermore, the respondents reported that they have a supportive work environment and colleagues that demonstrated positive attitude towards work.

CONCLUSION: Nurses in the emergency department of selected tertiary hospitals in Laguna had average levels of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. The researcher also concluded that there were significant relationships among compassion fatigue and hospital sector, parent, relationship status, and positive attitude. Therefore, nurses who worked in private hospitals, who were single, childless, and with colleagues that demonstrated a positive attitude towards work had a significant relationship to compassion fatigue. This conclusion was similar to the findings for vicarious trauma and burnout. The study also showed that age and years of experience as a nurse had a significant relationship between vicarious trauma and burnout. Therefore, 20 -29 years old nurses and those with 0 – 5 years’ work experience were significantly related to vicarious trauma and burnout.