Caregiver Fatigue Affects Everyone

Much is being researched and written on the subject of Physician/Nurse compassion, empathy, and care fatigue.  Just a few examples on the subject from the past few months are the following:

• When Nurses Catch Compassion Fatigue, Patients Suffer
• Researcher takes on ’empathy fatigue’ in the workplace
• Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians

If you’re anything like me, if and when feeling fatigued, you may notice that you feel more irritable, moody, easily frustrated, less optimistic.  Moreover, you may find that your ability to listen, focus, be present, give freely (without expectation of anything in return), express compassion and empathy, and the like are somewhat or even severely impaired.

As a hospital chaplain intern several years ago…

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