title: Exposing Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Syndrome in a Trauma Team: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Compassion fatigue (CF) and burnout syndrome (BOS) are identified in trauma, emergency, and critical care nursing practices. The purpose of this qualitative study was to measure CF and BOS in a trauma team and allow them to share perceptions of related stress triggers and coping strategies. Surveys to measure CF and BOS and a focus group allowed a trauma team (12 practitioners) to share perceptions of related stress triggers and coping strategies. More than half scored at risk for CF and BOS. Stress triggers were described as situation (abuse, age of patient) versus injury-related. Personal coping mechanisms were most often reported. Both CF and BOS can be assessed with a simple survey tool. Strategies for developing a program culturally sensitive to CF and BOS are provided.
authors.affiliation: Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas (Dr Berg and Ms Lippoldt); Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (Dr Berg); Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas (Dr Harshbarger); and Office of Research, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita (Dr Ahlers-Schmidt).
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Jenni L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harshbarger
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ahlers-Schmidt
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lippoldt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000068376:Compassion Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009746:Nursing, Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing*