Ever heard of it? Well we just had a retreat at work and this is where I found out about it. We are always talking about the patient, the caregiver, the family and here comes one for Oncology healthcare providers who are witness to their patient's physical,emotional,spiritual, and existential suffering evrey day that they go to work. This is obviously an every day experience and therefore a regular stressor. Our field requires smiles, compassion, investment in the patient and family and I would dare say that you see thatfrom my coworkers 99% of the time and yet we are human. This compassion fatigue can also be known as secondary traumatic stress. As Charles R. Figley, PhD, a psychologist and renowed traumatologist at Tulane University, he refers to compassion fatigue as " the cost of caring for others in emotional pain" and "an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree thaqt it is traumatizing for the helper." Having said all that, I don't expect you the patient or family that is going through such trials and tribulations with your diagnosis but just an awareness that we are all human and those smiles are part of your treatment and those hand holdings and listening ears is because we are invested in you. We know that some days are much harder for you than others and we also know that we need to be observant and watch for all your signals and needs and as for ourselves, we must be gentle to ourselves. Get away from it all and breathe, take time out to laugh and appreciate each day. So really the patient, the caregiver, and the nurse are all facing some similar stresses. To be effective in what we do, we have to take care of ourselves and know our limits and when to step back. The balance of work and stress must be addressed and reach out to others and don't isolate you or your feelings. Sometimes it hurts and we experience the loss of a patient too. We chose this career because we care and we want to make a difference and we want to be there for you, the patient and family. So in the meantime, Make it a great day! s
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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