Other Titles
Managing workplace relationships
Abstract
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017:
The concept of compassion fatigue (CF) emerged in the early 1990s in North America to explain a phenomenon observed in nurses employed in emergency departments. A precursor to burnout, CF is a well-known phenomenon associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and an inability to work effectively. In nurses, CF has been shown to reduce productivity, increase staff turnover and sick days, and lead to patient dissatisfaction and risks to patient safety. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of a Watson Room designated as a 'quiet zone' with warm colors on the wall, massage chair, and soothing sounds in the workplace environment, reduced CF in clinical nurses at the bedside in acute care settings. The data came from a survey of nurses (n = 19) working in a level 1 trauma center in an acute care setting. This quantitative study was conducted over a two week period. A single-group of nurses completed both a pre and post professional quality of life (ProQol) survey, a 30 item self-measurement of positive and negative aspects of caring. The ProQol operationalizes in three subcategories: compassion satisfaction (10 items), burnout (10 items), and CF (10 items). The ProQOL survey results showed statistically significant differences in the mean scores in all three categories. Paired samples t tests indicate the Watson Room proved to be successful in increasing compassion satisfaction (p = .009), decreasing burnout (p = .002), and decreasing secondary trauma/CF respectively (p = .02). This study shows the importance of nurses taking care of themselves while taking care of others. Understanding CF and devising and implementing interventions to address the subject are important for nurses and patients. Relationship base care of self is very important in our organization. Upper leadership is supportive of managers creating quiet zones from pre-existing spaces to support their staff in care of self, help combat compassion fatigue and burnout. Learning Objectives: Recognize compassion fatigue and burnout signs and symptoms. Create a "quiet zone" known as The Watson Room in a pre-existing space for clinical nurses at the bedside. Develop coping skills to manage compassion fatigue and burnout.
Sigma Membership
Phi Nu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Compassion Fatigue, Interventions, Clinical Nurses
Recommended Citation
Crewe, Crystal, "The Watson Room: Managing compassion fatigue in clinical nurses on the front line" (2017). Creating Healthy Work Environments Event Materials. 59.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2017/presentations_2017/59
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments 2017
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
The Watson Room: Managing compassion fatigue in clinical nurses on the front line
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Session presented on Saturday, March 18, 2017:
The concept of compassion fatigue (CF) emerged in the early 1990s in North America to explain a phenomenon observed in nurses employed in emergency departments. A precursor to burnout, CF is a well-known phenomenon associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and an inability to work effectively. In nurses, CF has been shown to reduce productivity, increase staff turnover and sick days, and lead to patient dissatisfaction and risks to patient safety. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of a Watson Room designated as a 'quiet zone' with warm colors on the wall, massage chair, and soothing sounds in the workplace environment, reduced CF in clinical nurses at the bedside in acute care settings. The data came from a survey of nurses (n = 19) working in a level 1 trauma center in an acute care setting. This quantitative study was conducted over a two week period. A single-group of nurses completed both a pre and post professional quality of life (ProQol) survey, a 30 item self-measurement of positive and negative aspects of caring. The ProQol operationalizes in three subcategories: compassion satisfaction (10 items), burnout (10 items), and CF (10 items). The ProQOL survey results showed statistically significant differences in the mean scores in all three categories. Paired samples t tests indicate the Watson Room proved to be successful in increasing compassion satisfaction (p = .009), decreasing burnout (p = .002), and decreasing secondary trauma/CF respectively (p = .02). This study shows the importance of nurses taking care of themselves while taking care of others. Understanding CF and devising and implementing interventions to address the subject are important for nurses and patients. Relationship base care of self is very important in our organization. Upper leadership is supportive of managers creating quiet zones from pre-existing spaces to support their staff in care of self, help combat compassion fatigue and burnout. Learning Objectives: Recognize compassion fatigue and burnout signs and symptoms. Create a "quiet zone" known as The Watson Room in a pre-existing space for clinical nurses at the bedside. Develop coping skills to manage compassion fatigue and burnout.