“Improved self-care is the cornerstone of compassion fatigue prevention. This may seem obvious, but most helpers tend to put their needs last and feel guilty for taking extra time out of their busy schedules to exercise, meditate or have a massage. On the personal front, helpers need to carefully and honestly assess their life situation: Is there a balance between nourishing and depleting activities in their lives? Do they have access to regular exercise, non-work interests, personal debriefing? Are they caregivers to everyone or have they shut down and cannot give any more when they go home? Are they relying on alcohol, food, gambling, shopping to de-stress?  Helpers must recognise that theirs is highly specialised work and their home lives must reflect this.” (Mathieu, 2007).

Compassion fatigue and burnout are correlated. It’s important to recognize these symptoms as they can have a huge influence on the well-being of the health care professional as well as on the patient safety. 

Attached is some more information on burnout among health professionals and its effect of patient safety. 

  Jesus Praying

The picture above shows Jesus praying to His heavenly Father. Jesus often took time to retreat and rest to stay in communication with His Father. “As the throng that had followed him departed, he went into the mountains, and there alone with God, He poured out His soul in pray for others….to His toil-worn workers today as to His first disciples He speaks these works of compassion, “Come ye yourself apart…and rest awhile” (White, p. 59). Jesus gave us a great example of taking time to retreat and to rest, and also to commune with God. In so doing, we can help to minimize compassion fatigue. 

Schneider, W. (n.d.). 1. Pre-Remarks About Prayer. Retrieved from http://www.fountainoflife-givingwater.com/books-2/learning-to-pray-from-jesus/1-pre-remarks-about-prayer/

White, E. G. (1999). Online Books - The Ministry of Healing. Retrieved from http://www.whiteestate.org/books/mh/mh.asp

However, as time went on, I had begun to notice a change in her. She no longer had the same fire or drive she once had. I never understood what happened. Since I was not every close to her I could not ask. After reading the signs and symptoms this week, I now realize that she was showing the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue. 

This is becoming serious issue. With more and more medical personnel becoming spiritually aware and interacting with patients on a spiritual level, they should all be taught to recognize the signs and symptoms. If not in themselves, at least in their colleagues.

"We are taught in medicine to be brave and to be strong, but there should also be a time and place for emotional expression, and perhaps even for crying. Doctors, nurses and other members of the healthcare team must be steady sources of support for patient. But when the patient encounter is over, at the end of the day, the doctor or nurse or social worker or clerk needs to be able to process everything they have seen and experienced. We need to support people who work with the sickest of the sick,"¹ 

^1.           Najjar et al. Compassion Fatigue: A Review of the Research to Date and Relevance to Cancer-care Providers. Journal of Health Psychology, 2009; 14 (2): 267 DOI: 10.1177/1359105308100211 

1.    Identify spiritual need of the patient

2.    Address the spiritual needs

3.    Follow up to the make sure the addressed spiritual needs are adequate

4.    Create comfortable atmosphere for the patient to communicate with the healthcare professional.

5.    Support team members – coordination among the spiritual care team to provide appropriate care.

6.    Whole person medical care including spiritual care.

 My reading on compassion fatigue brought to mind a story shared by a Navy Veteran to me during a very stressful time in my day.  His story brought perspective and appreciation for those who have served our nation.  
 This gentleman was heading to the Mediterranean during WWII.  The vessel he was on was sunk near the horn of Africa.  He and some of his shipmates were able to survive on a life raft for 3 days before being rescued by another Navy vessel.  Shortly after boarding that ship, It was sunk... this time 7 days on  the life raft.  They rationed water 7 ounces a day and had little if any food. 
      My minor stress over issues surrounding me seemed trivial comparatively.  When I get into a treatment or general "funk" I think of stories like his that a fair number of those I serve have experienced.  These serve as motivation when low.  It is nice to know that I am not the only caregiver that has challenges with motivation, empathy and at times sympathy. 

2-    Address patient spiritual needs.

3-    Follow up to be sure the spiritual needs have been adequately addressed.

4-    Create an atmosphere where patients feel comfortable talking  about the spiritual needs.

5-    Address the whole person needs.

Koenig: Spirituality in Patient Care: Introduction and Overview: Video #5 Spiritual Care.

Amr Abdelaziz.

In integrating spirituality in medical care, Physician performs spiritual assesment briefly to identify spiritual needs of patients related to medical care and refer them towards spiritual care team where chaplains/pastoral counsellor perform comprehensive spiritual assessments and focus on addressing their spiritual needs by prayers or emotional support since they are core person of spiritual care team.

Sometimes social worker can handle simple spiritual needs by addressing them or contacting local faith community or local clergy to set up appointment as in following up after hospital discharge. Healing should be enabled in all aspects of individual like physical, mental and social aspects of human, that’s why healing is holistic as per Dr.Koenig. So overall this involves many steps as identifying spiritual needs, address them and follow up in community and creating comfortable atmosphere for patients and family to discuss. When addressing spirituality as a whole personal care, chaplains are not alone so different perspective is important in dealing with people.

Thus initially taking care of our self, is of priority before extending care. Addressing our spirituality daily can be a very important approach to help us cope because our spirituality is our very core that gives us meaning in life. This can help us put in place the strategies that can combat this phenomenon that is sure to happen to all helpers or care givers. The healing ministry of Jesus points us to the fact that the concept of healing is established by God and we do not have to bear the burden of providing care alone, we can partner with Jesus in our profession. We need to trust God to fulfil this great calling of care because we are not the solution to our patient’s problem but stewards. We need to connect adequately to our spirituality and satisfy our spiritual needs to be able to find meaning in this calling of care giving and provide meaningful work of care.

This article just increased the awareness and reinforced the need for self-care.. Because running on empty does not serve the purpose..

“Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.” ~Max Ehrmann