Nurses Compassion Fatigue during the Pilgrim (Al-Hajj) Season

Abstract

Background: Compassion fatigue leads to behavioral, emotional, and physical changes, which affect the nurse, as well as the nurse-patient relationship. The consequences of compassion fatigue are not limited to the personal well-being of nurses but are also associated with poorer patient outcomes, increased thoughts of quitting among nurses, and higher job turnover rates. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the risk for compassion fatigue in nurses working a special assignment consisting of 15 consecutive 12-h days during the 1440 (2018) Al-Hajj pilgrimage season in Mecca (Makkah), Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study was a descriptive survey. A convenience sample of 542 nurses working a special nursing assignment during the Al-Hajj pilgrimage was recruited from 2 large metropolitan hospitals located in the center of Mecca. Three online surveys were completed (1) the Demographic Information Form, (2) the Professional Characteristics Information Form, and the (3) Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL 5). Results: The sample yielded a moderate risk of compassion fatigue (Burnout [BO] [ M = 22.5, SD = 5.7], secondary traumatic stress [ M = 25.0, SD = 6.4]), and compassion satisfaction (CS) ( M = 40.5, SD = 6.0). There was a positive relationship between the number of working days and compassion fatigue (BO [ r = 0.16, N = 542, p < 0.01], secondary trauma stress [ r = 0.90, N = 542, p < 0.05]), and a negative relationship with CS ( r = −0.20, N = 542, p < 0.01). Level of competence (Novice-Expert) was associated with levels of CS (X2 [4, N = 540] = 12.70, p = 0.013) and with levels of BO (X2 [4, N = 540] = 10.48, p = 0.033). Conclusion: Hospitals need to provide a healthy, supportive, and positive workplace. Nurse managers must provide a compassionate leadership style. Nurses must practice self-compassion and ensure work-life balance.