Addressing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Psychiatric Nurses
Introduction
Psychiatric nursing is a demanding field that requires emotional resilience,
empathy, and long hours of intense patient interaction. However, these same
qualities make nurses vulnerable toburnoutandcompassion fatigue, which can
lead to decreased job satisfaction, mental exhaustion, and even attrition from the
profession. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization,
and reduced personal accomplishment, while compassion fatigue results from
prolonged exposure to patients' trauma and suffering (Hunsaker et al., 2015). This
paper explores the causes, symptoms, and evidence-based interventions to
mitigate burnout and compassion fatigue among psychiatric nurses.
Causes of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Several factors contribute to burnout and compassion fatigue in psychiatric
nursing:
1. High Emotional Demand– Psychiatric nurses frequently deal with patients
experiencing severe mental health crises, aggression, or suicidal ideation,
leading to emotional drain.
2. Heavy Workloads– Understaffing and administrative burdens increase
stress levels, leaving little time for self-care.
3. Lack of Institutional Support– Inadequate resources, insufficient training,
and poor workplace culture exacerbate stress.
4. Traumatic Exposure– Repeated exposure to patient self-harm, violence, or
relapse can lead to secondary traumatic stress.
5. Moral Distress– Ethical dilemmas, such as involuntary hospitalizations or
limited treatment success, contribute to emotional fatigue.
Symptoms and Consequences
Recognizing early signs is crucial for intervention. Symptoms include:
Physical: Chronic fatigue, headaches, insomnia
Emotional: Irritability, anxiety, emotional numbness
