Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units
Abstract Background Nurses in the neonatal intensive care units face continuous emotional demands as they care for critically ill infants and support distressed families. Repeated exposure to trauma and parental grief can lead to compassion fatigue – a state of emotional exhaustion that reduces the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03385-2 |
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| author | Linda Welde Hagen I. Rød N. M. Kynø B. S. Tandberg |
| author_facet | Linda Welde Hagen I. Rød N. M. Kynø B. S. Tandberg |
| author_sort | Linda Welde Hagen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Nurses in the neonatal intensive care units face continuous emotional demands as they care for critically ill infants and support distressed families. Repeated exposure to trauma and parental grief can lead to compassion fatigue – a state of emotional exhaustion that reduces the ability to empathize. The purpose of the study was to explore how nurses experience compassion fatigue while working in neonatal intensive care units. Methods Qualitative, exploratory design. Eleven individual interviews with nurses and nurse specialists were conducted in August and September in 2023, at three neonatal intensive care units in three different hospitals in Norway. The reflexive thematic analysis described by Braun and Clark was used to analyze the findings. COREQ guidelines were used to ensure the quality of the reported data. Results Two main themes with sub-themes reflecting the nurses` experiences were revealed. Theme 1: “The Voice of Compassion fatigue”, with sub-themes: “A double burden of care” and “The Silent Stray of Responsibility”, and Theme 2: “Perceived Consequences of Compassion Fatigue”, with sub-theme: “Reaching the Bottom of the Container of Care”. Perceived consequences affect the nurses physically and mentally and jeopardize their patient and private relationships. Conclusion Neonatal Nurses experience compassion fatigue due to emotional strain and the hidden burden of caring for critically ill infants and their families. This may lead to physical and psychological exhaustion, affecting both patient care and personal life. These findings highlight the need for systematic support to safeguard nurses’ emotional well-being. Trial and protocol registration Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18b4017fec214fc3a27d2a7a49d52963 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-18b4017fec214fc3a27d2a7a49d529632025-08-20T03:37:20ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-012411910.1186/s12912-025-03385-2Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care unitsLinda Welde Hagen0I. Rød1N. M. Kynø2B. S. Tandberg3Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Oslo University HospitalDepartment of Master and Postgraduate Education, Lovisenberg Diaconal University CollegeDepartment of Nursing and Health Promotion, Acute and Critical Illness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan UniversityDepartment of Master and Postgraduate Education, Lovisenberg Diaconal University CollegeAbstract Background Nurses in the neonatal intensive care units face continuous emotional demands as they care for critically ill infants and support distressed families. Repeated exposure to trauma and parental grief can lead to compassion fatigue – a state of emotional exhaustion that reduces the ability to empathize. The purpose of the study was to explore how nurses experience compassion fatigue while working in neonatal intensive care units. Methods Qualitative, exploratory design. Eleven individual interviews with nurses and nurse specialists were conducted in August and September in 2023, at three neonatal intensive care units in three different hospitals in Norway. The reflexive thematic analysis described by Braun and Clark was used to analyze the findings. COREQ guidelines were used to ensure the quality of the reported data. Results Two main themes with sub-themes reflecting the nurses` experiences were revealed. Theme 1: “The Voice of Compassion fatigue”, with sub-themes: “A double burden of care” and “The Silent Stray of Responsibility”, and Theme 2: “Perceived Consequences of Compassion Fatigue”, with sub-theme: “Reaching the Bottom of the Container of Care”. Perceived consequences affect the nurses physically and mentally and jeopardize their patient and private relationships. Conclusion Neonatal Nurses experience compassion fatigue due to emotional strain and the hidden burden of caring for critically ill infants and their families. This may lead to physical and psychological exhaustion, affecting both patient care and personal life. These findings highlight the need for systematic support to safeguard nurses’ emotional well-being. Trial and protocol registration Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03385-2Compassion fatigueQualitative researchIntensive care units, neonatalIntensive care, neonatalNeonatal intensive care nursing |
| spellingShingle | Linda Welde Hagen I. Rød N. M. Kynø B. S. Tandberg Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units BMC Nursing Compassion fatigue Qualitative research Intensive care units, neonatal Intensive care, neonatal Neonatal intensive care nursing |
| title | Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| title_full | Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| title_fullStr | Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| title_short | Compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| title_sort | compassion fatigue among nurses in neonatal intensive care units |
| topic | Compassion fatigue Qualitative research Intensive care units, neonatal Intensive care, neonatal Neonatal intensive care nursing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03385-2 |
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