Spirituality in Health Care

Spirituality in Health Care
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Compassion Fatigue
Several studies that have been conducted have confirmed that caregivers are hosts of high levels of compassion fatigue. Workers on a daily basis struggle to function in environments that have persistently heart wrenching and emotionally, mentally, spiritually, socially, and psychologically challenging conditions (Melvin, 2012). Promoting positive change among societal members is an aim that is so important and unavoidable to caregivers that are passionate about caring for others. The reality that is often painful and the knowledge of the society’s laxity in caring about the wellbeing of the weak and disadvantaged takes a toll on these caregivers and in the long run, negative attitudes begin taking over (Melvin, 2012).
Johnson (1992) was the first to use the term compassion fatigue in a nursing journal. He described this fatigue as situations where nurses had switched off their feelings or were helpless and angered in response to the stress they experience as they watch their patients go through illnesses and traumas that were devastating (Yoder, 2010). However, this fatigue is also experienced by other caregivers outside the health care system and setting. Therefore, it can be defined as fatigue that is emotional or spiritual causing an individual to feel less joyful and sometimes angered due to caring for others. It leads to disillusionment and desensitization as a means of dealing with the emotional stress of proving care, compassion, and support to that one cares for or about (Journeys to Wellbeing, 2012).
Five Concepts
The major concepts regarding compassion fatigue are the cognitive, behavioral, spiritual, emotional, and somatic. These have unique signs that indicate the onset of compassion fatigue. For the cognitive factor, the individual may have problems with their self-esteem and self-worth, there will be a noticeable decrease in work performance presenting with increased absenteeism, reduced motivation, low morale, and observable negativity. The individual is often absent minded, and concentration becomes increasingly problematic. The caregiver often is preoccupied with the illness and in extreme may even develop suicidal thoughts or experience similar symptoms at the person he/she is caring for (convulsions).
Emotionally, caregivers experiencing compassion fatigue will present with emotional disengagement and will often avoid the caregiving situation. Some will present with embarrassment, shame, and disgust towards the caregiving situation. There is also decreased involvement, increased problems and difficulties in personal relationships, and demoralization and questioning one’s ability and competence in providing care (Day & Anderson, 2011). The behavioral signs include drug, food, and or alcohol abuse; workaholic patterns; sleep disturbances; increased irritability; aggressive behaviors; and compulsive behavior...