Compassion fatigue and stress related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a study of critical care nurses’ experiences

Abstract

Abstract Background Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is considered one of the most stressful experiences in critical care nursing; it directly and indirectly leads to compassion fatigue and burnout. Aim Determine the levels of and relationship between postcode stress and compassion fatigue. Design and methods A descriptive-correlational study using 300 critical care nurses from five intensive care units in two hospitals was conducted. Tools Demographic and work-related data, the Postcode Stress Scale, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Fatigue subscale. Results Nurses had moderate to high postcode stress and compassion fatigue (67.98 ± 16.39 and 65.40±14.34, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between postcode stress, burnout (r=0.350, p=<0.001), secondary traumatic stress (r=0.518, p=<0.001), and subsequently, compassion fatigue (r=0.449, p=<0.001). In addition, higher levels of postcode stress were associated with higher levels of compassion fatigue with its subscales: burnout and secondary traumatic stress, with a coefficient of determination for compassion fatigue (0.199), burnout subscale (0.121), and secondary traumatic stress (0.266). Conclusion Critical care nurses involved in resuscitation experiences are susceptible to postcode stress, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. There is a significant relationship between these factors, with higher levels of postcode stress contributing to higher levels of compassion fatigue and its subscales: burnout and secondary traumatic stress. These results highlight the importance of addressing and managing the psychological well-being of nurses in resuscitation settings to mitigate the adverse effects of stress and promote their overall resilience and well-being.