Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the presence of compassion fatigue in family carers who assist staff with care of older relatives in long-term settings. METHOD: Narrative data were collected through observation and conversations with five purposively selected family carers. FINDINGS: Thematic and poetic analysis suggest that family carers exhibit symptoms associated in the literature with compassion fatigue in nurses and other healthcare professionals. Two major themes emerged: role engulfment and enveloping sadness. CONCLUSION: Nurses working in long-term care settings should educate family carers about compassion fatigue, recognise its presence in them and provide support to family carers experiencing the condition.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-31 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Nursing older people |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2010 |