Examining the Role of Mindfulness Practices in Reducing Compassion Fatigue Among Critical Care Nurses

Posted: Aug 09, 2020

• Lola Gibson
• Carmen Rivera
• Preston Hughes

Abstract

The contemporary healthcare landscape presents critical care nurses with exceptionally demanding work environments characterized by high-stakes decision-making, prolonged exposure to human suffering, and increasing administrative burdens. These occupational stressors contribute significantly to the development of compassion fatigue, a condition comprising emotional exhaustion, reduced capacity for empathy, and negative psychological outcomes resulting from prolonged caregiving. Compassion fatigue represents a substantial threat to both nurse wellbeing and patient care quality, with implications for workforce retention, medical errors, and healthcare system sustainability. Traditional approaches to addressing this issue have included counseling services, peer support programs, and conventional mindfulness training, yet these interventions have demonstrated limited long-term efficacy and engagement sustainability. This research introduces a novel paradigm by integrating emerging technologies with established mindfulness principles to create an adaptive, personalized intervention specifically designed for the unique challenges faced by critical care nurses. Our approach diverges from conventional methodologies by incorporating real-time physiological monitoring and immersive technologies.