What is "This" I'm Feeling?

I began this journey as most researchers do, with a question.  Being a new nurse feeling the impact of caring for others I set out to find out if I am the only one effected by this.  The answer is obviously no but it has led me to further questions such as: What is "this" I'm feeling?  How many nurses are impacted?  To what extent are others effected?  What are the signs?  What can be done to prevent burnout or compassion fatigue? I'm determined to continue until I find the answers to these questions and probably more and as long as I'm searching, I'll keep sharing. 

I have found a study summary from Medscape.Com I'd like to share.  This not  offers clarity but also some very interesting insight.  "The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of compassion fatigue among a broad spectrum of nurses and to investigate the situations that lead to compassion fatigue and nurses' methods of coping."  (Edmunds, 2010).

Previously I related burnout and compassion fatigue and used them interchangeably but this study differentiates between the two. "Compassion fatigue is often linked to burnout, a related but different concept in which the nurse experiences slowly developing frustration, a loss of control, and generally low morale."  (Edmunds, 2010).   The author further defines compassion fatigue as the "term used to describe the emotional effect of being indirectly traumatized by helping someone who has experienced primary traumatic stress." Having the two separate definitions will aid us as we continue learning about both. 

Reflecting on the last year, I now realize what I was (and still do feel from time to time) is compassion fatigue.  Reading over the study summary, it tells us this fatigue is often triggered by certain situations nurses may find themselves in.  It gives the following examples:

• Believed that their actions would "not make a difference" or "never seemed to be enough";
• Experienced problems with the system (high patient census, heavy patient assignments, high acuity, overtime, and extra workdays);
• Had personal issues, such as inexperience or inadequate energy;
• Identified with the patients; or
• Overlooked serious patient symptoms.

All of which I know I've experienced or done at some point since starting out.  It's terrifying.  I leave work some nights with a knot in the back of my throat.  I go to dinner with my significant other, begin thinking to my self about work, and end up snap at him for asking if I want dessert.  Really?  Pie is usually not something to yell over but when I'm lost in negative thoughts about what more I could've done or what tell tale sign I MUST'VE missed, it bleeds over into my personal life.  I've also taken extra shifts, not for the money, but because I refuse to let my floor be short handed.  The extra shifts have turned into "doubles" (16-20 hour shifts) causing me to be sleep deprived, miss homework deadlines, or class all together.  Needless to say, that's not having a positive effect on my GPA.

I have found some reassurance in learning that others experience the same issues, however.  The next step is deciding which coping skills are effective to prevent the new nurse (i.e. myself) from progressing from compassion fatigue to full out burnout.  I know it will be different for each person so I'd like to explore as many options as possible over the next few months; trying as many out as possible and reporting back the effectiveness.  As with Ms. Cindy's advice (see It's All About Balance) I'd appreciate any input or suggestions from those of you who've been in similar stressful situations.

Resources:
Edmunds, M. (2010, November 15). Caring Too Much: Compassion Fatigue in Nurses. Medscape: Medscape Access. Retrieved February 7, 2012, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732211