Analysis of Compassion Fatigue Among Psychiatric Nurses and Its Effect on Spiritual and Competent Care

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric nurses are exposed to patients experiencing severe emotional, psychological and behavioural challenges, which can lead to diminished empathy, compassion and overall well-being. Compassion fatigue, primarily work-related burnout, stems explicitly from the emotional strain of caregiving. The increasing prevalence of compassion fatigue among psychiatric nurses is a significant issue that threatens their ability to deliver competent and compassionate care. Aim: This study seeks to explore the relationship between compassion fatigue, spiritual care and the competence of psychiatric nurses, emphasising the effect of compassion fatigue on spiritual and competent care. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional and correlational design on 322 psychiatric nurses from four hospitals in Alexandria, Sohag, Portsaid and Cairo, selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected through anonymous self-administered questionnaires distributed from March to May 2024. The instruments used included the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test (CFST) scale, the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS), the Self-Liking and Competence Scale-Revised Version (SLCS-R) and a demographic questionnaire. Findings: The study's findings revealed significant relationships between compassion fatigue, spirituality, spiritual care and competence among psychiatric nurses. Nurses reported a mean compassion fatigue score of 128.22, and the analyses showed that compassion fatigue negatively correlated with both spirituality and spiritual care (r = −0.411, p < 0.001) and competence (r = −0.196, p < 0.001). Additionally, spirituality and spiritual care were positively correlated with competence (r = 0.357, p < 0.001). Also, linear regression analyses indicated that compassion fatigue negatively impacted spirituality and spiritual care (β = −0.196, p < 0.001). Implication: Enhancing nurses' spiritual care competence through training and support can foster a more compassionate and spiritually supportive environment for patients, which is crucial in psychiatric care settings where patients often face complex emotional and mental health challenges. Conclusion: These findings suggest that psychiatric nurses can improve their ability to deliver spiritually and professionally competent care by mitigating compassion fatigue, thus improving patient outcomes and nurse well-being.