Although this article from the Child Life Council focuses on burnout, there are a variety of tips and ideas for self-care that can be used to prevent compassion fatigue. Included in this article are two questions that encourage Child Life Specialists to evaluate how well they are holistically caring for themselves.
Gottlieb, D., Hennessy, L., & Squires, V. (2004). Burnout: Knowing the symptoms and learning how to care for yourself, too. Child Life Focus (6)2, 1-4
Gottlieb, D., Hennessy, L., & Squires, V. (2004). Burnout: Knowing the symptoms and learning how to care for yourself, too. Child Life Focus (6)2, 1-4
This training manual for national child welfare adoption professionals can be modified to address compassion fatigue in other workplaces. It includes discussions about what compassion fatigue is, several participant tests to see if compassion fatigue is being experienced and self-awareness and self-care activities.
National Child Resource Center for Adoption (2010). Adoption Competency Curriculum Trainer’s Manual: Compassion fatigue: Secondary traumatic stress disorder, burnout, vicarious trauma. Retrieved from http://www.nrcadoption.org/pdfs/acc/TG%20-%20Compassion%20Fatigue%203-10.pdf
National Child Resource Center for Adoption (2010). Adoption Competency Curriculum Trainer’s Manual: Compassion fatigue: Secondary traumatic stress disorder, burnout, vicarious trauma. Retrieved from http://www.nrcadoption.org/pdfs/acc/TG%20-%20Compassion%20Fatigue%203-10.pdf
Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL) Scale to measure both compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Includes scoring chart.
Stamm, B.H. (2009). Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQQL). Retrieved from www.proquol.org
Stamm, B.H. (2009). Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQQL). Retrieved from www.proquol.org
This study looks at the impact that witnessing continuous medical trauma such as childhood illness, injury or medical treatment had on the care professional. A sample of medical personnel including medical staff, allied health, child life, psychology, and nursing, were given 4 questionnaires to measure the amount of the compassion fatigue experienced as well as coping and other outside variables that may have influenced the level of compassion fatigue experienced including: profession, length of employment and empathy. Results showed that 39% of the sample was at moderate or extreme risk for compassion fatigue and 21% were at a moderate to high risk for burnout
Robins, P., Meltzer, L., Zelikovsky, N. (2009). The experience of secondary traumatic stress upon care providers working within a children's hospital. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 24(4). p 270-279
Robins, P., Meltzer, L., Zelikovsky, N. (2009). The experience of secondary traumatic stress upon care providers working within a children's hospital. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 24(4). p 270-279
This study focused on two objectives: the differences that are present between the concepts of secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and burn out and how healthcare professionals in the NICU, PICU or PEDS all experience and are impacted by secondary traumatization. A sample of healthcare professionals working in the aforementioned hospital departments were sent online surveys concerning these objectives. Results revealed that there is a great amount of overlap that exists between these terms and introduced the term compassion satisfaction. Compassion satisfaction is a possible protective factor against compassion fatigue in which the health care professionals feel a sense of satisfaction in and through their interaction with patients.
Meadors, P., Lamson, A., Swanson, M., White, M., & Sira, N. (2009-2010). Secondary traumatization in pediatric healthcare providers: Compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Omega 60(2). p 103-128.
Meadors, P., Lamson, A., Swanson, M., White, M., & Sira, N. (2009-2010). Secondary traumatization in pediatric healthcare providers: Compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Omega 60(2). p 103-128.
It was hypothesized that clinicians providing consistent trauma-focused care would be at a greater risk for secondary traumatic stress. Professionals have begun to request that resources be made available to help aide in the prevention and treatment of secondary traumatic stress, such as increased training. Although further research is required, there have been mixed results revealing that secondary traumatic stress is not increasingly associated with professionals working with a greater trauma-focus population.
Elwood, L., Mott, J., Lohr, J., & Galovski, T. (2011). Secondary trauma symptoms in clinicians: A critical review of the construct, specificity, and implications for trauma-focused treatment. Clinical Psychology Review, 31. p 25-36
Elwood, L., Mott, J., Lohr, J., & Galovski, T. (2011). Secondary trauma symptoms in clinicians: A critical review of the construct, specificity, and implications for trauma-focused treatment. Clinical Psychology Review, 31. p 25-36
As a result of higher survival rates for children with chronic illnesses, health care providers are experiencing an increased and prolonged interaction with the suffering or dying child. Therefore the aim of this study was to take a further look at the impact of compassion fatigue on health care professionals working with children on critical care units.
Meadors, P., Lamson, A. (2008). Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization:Provider self care on intensive care units for children. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 22(1). p 24-34.
Meadors, P., Lamson, A. (2008). Compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization:Provider self care on intensive care units for children. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 22(1). p 24-34.