Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Carolyn Sipes

Abstract

Current literature on compassion fatigue is expansive, but there is a lack on the relationship between compassion fatigue and general health complaints in oncology nurses; how they perceive compassion fatigue and its relation to their general health. Using Pender’s health promotion model, this mixed methods study addressed how oncology nurses perceive compassion fatigue and whether a correlation exists between compassion fatigue and general health complaints. Data were collected from a sample of 55 oncology nurses through two separate Survey Monkey links. All 55 participants completed quantitative data points including a demographic questionnaire, the Professional Quality of Life 5 tool, and the Giessen Subjective Complaints brief form. Participants selecting the second link also completed qualitative questionnaires (n = 15). Pearson’s correlation test revealed statistically significant positive correlations: burnout with exhaustion and musculoskeletal complaints (p = .000 and .036, respectively) and secondary traumatic stress with exhaustion, gastrointestinal complaints, and cardiovascular complaints (p = .000, .022, and .007, respectively). Qualitative data revealed nine themes including fatigue and being overwhelming. Combining quantitative and qualitative data showed the strength of the relationship between compassion fatigue and general health complaints. Oncology nurses recognize compassion fatigue as a very real phenomenon and feel that it needs to be addressed. Social implications of this new research, showing that compassion fatigue is a problem affecting nurses that needs to be addressed could lead to improved retention of nurses in the field.

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