Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Health Services
Advisor
Compreca Martin
Abstract
Compassion fatigue (CF) is a significant cause of nurse burnout (BO). Oncology nurses are particularly susceptible to CF because of the continual contact with terminally ill patients and recurrent experiences with patients’ death. A search of existing literature found no published studies that explicitly focused on interviewing oncology nurses to gain their expression of their lived experiences with CF while caring for terminally ill patients. This phenomenological qualitative study explored oncology nurses’ experiences dealing with and managing CF when caring for terminally ill patients. Figley’s compassion fatigue theory grounded this study. The research questions focused on the lived experiences of providing care to terminally ill patients and the impact CF has on the quality of care the oncology nurses deliver. 10 English-speaking RNs who worked or are working with terminally ill patients in an oncology unit for 3 years or more at hospitals in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County, Florida, were interviewed. Data were inductively coded and categorized into themes. 5 themes emerged: (a) emotionally and physically exhausted; (b) patients’ young age; (c) patients’ death; (d) impact on care; and (e) personal time. Recommendations for future research are conducting phenomenological qualitative studies with oncology nurses from other parts of Florida or other states and oncology nurses with 1-3 years of experience. Implications for positive social change include teaching CF management skills as a means of burnout prevention and creating interventions that help oncology nurses combat the effects of CF.
Recommended Citation
Whyte, Stacey-Ann Mary, "Oncology Nurses’ Experiences Dealing With and Managing Compassion Fatigue While Caring for Terminally Ill Patients" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14608.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14608
