Addressing Compassion Fatigue: Strategies from Kristina Fabis, a Veteran Nurse with Over Two Decades of Experience

Compassion fatigue, the emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from continuous empathy and caring for others, is taking a significant toll on nurses. It not only affects nurse well-being but also impacts the care delivered by nurses, highlighting the need for resources to build compassion fatigue resilience.

ConceiveAbilities spoke with Clinical Nurse Liaison, Kristina Fabis, APRN, FNP-BC, RNC-OB. Kristina was a labor and delivery nurse with over 23 years of experience before joining the ConceiveAbilities team. Kristina has been a surrogate three times with ConceiveAbilities, “Being a nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a surrogate has brought fulfillment and purpose to my life. It has allowed me to care for others in their time of need.”

Read below to learn more about compassion fatigue and how Kristina recommends nurses take care of themselves.

How have you experienced compassion fatigue in your nursing career?
I've experienced compassion fatigue a few different ways and times throughout my nursing career. The majority of my career was spent in a busy Labor and Delivery unit that was frequently understaffed. Not only did I work full time but I was often required to work 'on-call.’ I was at the hospital so much, both during the day and back overnight. It slowly led to exhaustion. While I would never let it affect how I treated or cared for my patients, my identity was slowly slipping away. I was beginning to forget who I was outside of the hospital; as a mom, wife, friend, daughter, you name it. I began to feel like I was 'going through the motions.' I was a robot who could only do one thing: care for others and never for herself.

Over the years, we observed a notable increase in the severity of our patients' conditions which often affected their post delivery recovery, even leading to emergency situations. That resulted in extremely stressful work environments. I began to experience burnout.

What are ways you decompress, relax, and recharge when experiencing compassion fatigue?
I really utilize my vacation time. I rely on my friends and family. I encourage others to speak up about their struggles and their experiences. Put the chore or household task aside and spend 15, 30, or 60 minutes doing something you love which brings you joy. I plan activities outside of the hospital and home to help me decompress. This includes spending time at the lake, training for a 5k, or even a quick girls weekend.

What communities have helped you navigate the highs and lows of your nursing career?
Undoubtedly, my work family was the #1 community that helped me to navigate the highs and lows of my nursing career. My co-workers and colleagues became my second family, especially considering how much time we spent around each other each week. More than anyone, they knew how I felt and the challenges we faced as nurses. When a hospital's administration or our department manager left us understaffed and with limited resources, it was my fellow nurses that I leaned on and vice versa. Together we got through countless emergent and stressful situations.

What advice do you have for other nurses struggling with compassion fatigue?

• Put Yourself First: Make yourself a priority. Develop new interests outside of medicine and your profession.
• Take Care of Your Health: Your health, including what you put into your body, how frequently you exercise and how long you rest, is important. Take a walk, even if only for 10 minutes; those additional steps do have an impact. Commit to a healthier diet. No change is too small.
• Have Something to Anticipate: Always have something that you are looking forward to.
• Leverage Available Support Networks: Look into your employer's EAP (Employee Assistance Program) plan. Mental health is important. There are even numerous virtual platforms, such as BetterHelp, these days which make therapy and counseling possible from the confines of your own home.
• Ensure You Get Enough Sleep: Finally, don't deprive yourself of sleep or underestimate its importance.

How do you combat compassion fatigue as a nurse? Share your experience by joining the #EmpowerNursesChallenge.