Compassion Fatigue Among Australian Oncology Nurses Caring for Adult Cancer Patients: Antecedents, Impact and Mediators

Aims: To explore how Australian oncology nurses perceive and experience compassion fatigue when caring for adult cancer patients, how they mitigate compassion fatigue and identify potential interventions to address compassion fatigue.

Design: A qualitative, descriptive study.

Methods: Twenty Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients were interviewed between August and September 2023. Participants were recruited from a larger, quantitative study. Interviews were conducted virtually, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified. Participants viewed heavy workloads, low staffing and organisational support as contributing factors to compassion fatigue. They described compassion fatigue as a feeling of having nothing left to give, impacting their ability to self-care, deliver quality patient care and maintain relationships. The pride participants felt in their cancer care work helped mitigate compassion fatigue. Self-care strategies, workplace mentoring and support were identified as ways to mitigate compassion fatigue.

Conclusion: The work of oncology nurses can contribute to compassion fatigue, which may impact nurses and patient care. Organisations would benefit from supporting staff to engage in self-care activities, professional development and mentoring.

Implications for professional: Findings support a multi-tiered approach to addressing compassion fatigue among oncology nurses. Organisations can prioritise adequate staffing levels, mentoring opportunities, focused well-being interventions and provide avenues for meaningful recognition.

Reporting method: This study adheres to the COREQ reporting guidelines.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.