Question

case study 10

M.T., a 34-year-old woman, has been a nurse on the oncology unit for three years. She passionately cares for her patients and families. She communicates clearly to the nursing staff and to other members of the health care team but does not discuss her work elsewhere. Over a break, M.T. shares with you that lately she has felt that her “heart just has not been in it” at work. She states that she has not been sleeping as well as normally and feels “tired and drained.”

1. What may M.T. be experiencing and why?
2. List two NANDA potential/”risk for” nursing diagnoses related to this patient?
3. If she continues to experience this issue, what might happen to M.T.’s physical and mental well being?
4. What are some coping strategies may assist M.T.?
5. What are some resources in the workplace that may be available to assist M.T. and other nurses with coping?

Answer 1

1)According to the case scenario it looks like MT is suffering from compassion fatigue a psychological stress syndrome secondary to trauma .which may have caused during the course of their clinical experience.studies prove that oncology nurses are more prone for compassion fatigue because cancer is a chronic disease and they see many patients undergoing very painful treatment modalities of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and most of the time which results in poor outcome.

2.)NANDA diagnosis for compassion fatigue

a) Ineffective coping related to inadequate support system as evidenced by disinterest at work work,feeling of tiredness, insomnia.

b)Risk for self directed harm related to feeling of hopelessness .

c)Fatigue related to stress overload as evidenced by exhaustion,lack of sleep.

3)If it continues MT may go ino depression,low self esteem.self care deficit.lack of interest on food will lead to malnourishment and cause many vitamin deficiency disease,lack of sleep will lead to exhaustion.she may go into starvation,aloof feeling.and cause a lot of stress on both mental and physical well being .

4.coping strategies.

Encourage self care:An easy way to deal with compassion fatigue is to get involved in adequate self care take time out for yourself.engae in maintaining good self care visiting parlour,eating a healthy diet,engaging in any form of exercise.

Engage in hobbies outside:Another way to deal with compassion fatigue is to encourage practising hobbies like cooking,dancing,photography.which will help you be closed from the clinical area .

Maintain work life balance : understand that both personal and professional life's are two different entity and do not mix each other .do not take work stress home .and vise versa.

Communication: communicate with fellow workers,parents once feeling expressed it's easier to solve so communicate on a daily basis on the fears, anxiety faced at work .

5.Resources at workplace to prevent compassion fatigue.

Healthcare institution should have resources aimed to reduce or prevent compassion fatigue..

a)Adequate breaks:Hospitals should provide adequate day offs ,breaks to prevent exhaustion.

b)appoint a Chaplin,psychologist where nurses can visit often and get help before worsening

c)Engage nurses in Yoga,salsa dance by arranging full day program in the hospital so that each nurse gets turn for these activities.

d)Nurses connect:Hospitals can invest in a program called nurses connect in which various departments nurses of the same hospital goes out for some kind of excursion to some resort,nature just to enjoy and relax.This can be done in such a way each nurse gets one chance once a year.

e)arrange for motivational speakers who can talk to nurses on regular basis.

f)hospitals can invest in library,gym,ayurvedic centres which provides relaxation and encourges nurses to visit as it in same premises.