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D031 Managing Nurse Burnout & Compassion Fatigue Through Innovations |
Questions And Answers, Latest Update | 100% Correct Answers | Graded
Management of Nurse Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Tiffanie M. Suits
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University
D031: Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice
Jessica Bechard, Ph.D., RN
March 1, 2023
, 2
Management of Nurse Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Disruptive Innovation in Healthcare Examples
In healthcare, nurses are at the forefront of patient safety and satisfaction. However, with
the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing precautions years later, nurse burnout and compassion
fatigue are rampant. Nurses all too often face highly stressful situations such as patient death,
violence, acute conditions, and patient suffering that they are unable to control (Partlak et al.,
2022). These reasons lead nurses to experience high levels of psychological distress which can
ultimately result in work-related problems such as extended leaves of absence and burnout
(Partlak et al., 2022). The term burnout was first identified by Herbert Freudenberger, an
American psychologist, “to describe what occurs following exposure to constant occupational
stress over time” (Henson, 2020, p. 77). Compassion fatigue was used initially to “describe
nurses who had disconnected from or had become desensitized to patients and families (Henson,
2020, p. 77). Furthermore, Henson (2020) states burnout and compassion fatigue “contribute to
nearly 20% of nurses leaving a position in the first year and many leaving the nursing
profession” (p. 77). To combat the issue of nurse burnout and fatigue, two disruptive innovations
have been identified.
The first disruptive innovation is the use of relaxation rooms in healthcare facilities for
staff to use at their convenience. During crisis times, breaks at work take on a much greater
importance to prevent workplace fatigue (Retting et al., 2021). In general, many people see
massage therapy as a stress reliever for everyday sources of stress. Several previous studies were
conducted to examine the effect of massage on blood pressure and heart rate with decreases in
both vital signs in all three studies after the massage (Hand et al., 2019). Hand et al, (2019) study
consisted of nurses participating in 200 massage chair sessions from January 1 through June 31,
2018. The study determined a “significant difference in nurses’ perceived stress was found from
, 3
pre- to post-session, corresponding with a 43.5% reduction” (Hand et al, 2019, p. 378).
Furthermore, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was noted with pre-session
SBP in the hypertensive range, and post-session SBP in the normal range. Having a quiet room
for nurses to have a massage chair session “provides a welcoming, supportive place for nurses to
emotionally and physically engage in self-care needs” (Hand et al., 2019, p. 379).
The second disruptive innovation to combat the issue of nurse burnout and compassion
fatigue is the use of peer-support groups. Support from peers can also help staff form healthy
habits and stay on track with goals (AHC Media). Kim & Cho (2022) conducted a study “to
calculate the combined effect size of nurse support programs on job satisfaction among hospital
nurses” (p. 1). This study named a variety of education and training, programs, workshops, and
management activities developed and conducted for nurses as nurse support programs (Kim &
Cho, 2022). During the above study, it was concluded that nurse support programs are effective
in improving the job satisfaction of new and experienced nurses (Kim & Cho, 2022). Healthcare
facilities should adopt the idea of providing nursing support groups to increase workplace
satisfaction, decrease burnout and compassion fatigue, and nurse retention.
Nurse Innovator Role
With increased work demands leading to increased psychological stress on nurses in the
field today, nurse innovators can see a problem and work toward a solution. As a master’s level
nurse, the role of nurse innovator can assume the role of a detective, a scientist, or a manager of
the healing environment. The goal of any of the three nurse innovator roles is to discover an
issue and implement innovations, policies, and/or procedures to improve healthcare.
Nurses as innovators must “leverage creativity paired with a methodological approach to solve
an existing problem through a new product, service, or strategy that meets a demonstrated market
need” (Cusson et al., 2020, p. 13).
D031 Managing Nurse Burnout & Compassion Fatigue Through Innovations |
Questions And Answers, Latest Update | 100% Correct Answers | Graded
Management of Nurse Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Tiffanie M. Suits
College of Health Professions, Western Governors University
D031: Advancing Evidence-Based Innovation in Nursing Practice
Jessica Bechard, Ph.D., RN
March 1, 2023
, 2
Management of Nurse Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
Disruptive Innovation in Healthcare Examples
In healthcare, nurses are at the forefront of patient safety and satisfaction. However, with
the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing precautions years later, nurse burnout and compassion
fatigue are rampant. Nurses all too often face highly stressful situations such as patient death,
violence, acute conditions, and patient suffering that they are unable to control (Partlak et al.,
2022). These reasons lead nurses to experience high levels of psychological distress which can
ultimately result in work-related problems such as extended leaves of absence and burnout
(Partlak et al., 2022). The term burnout was first identified by Herbert Freudenberger, an
American psychologist, “to describe what occurs following exposure to constant occupational
stress over time” (Henson, 2020, p. 77). Compassion fatigue was used initially to “describe
nurses who had disconnected from or had become desensitized to patients and families (Henson,
2020, p. 77). Furthermore, Henson (2020) states burnout and compassion fatigue “contribute to
nearly 20% of nurses leaving a position in the first year and many leaving the nursing
profession” (p. 77). To combat the issue of nurse burnout and fatigue, two disruptive innovations
have been identified.
The first disruptive innovation is the use of relaxation rooms in healthcare facilities for
staff to use at their convenience. During crisis times, breaks at work take on a much greater
importance to prevent workplace fatigue (Retting et al., 2021). In general, many people see
massage therapy as a stress reliever for everyday sources of stress. Several previous studies were
conducted to examine the effect of massage on blood pressure and heart rate with decreases in
both vital signs in all three studies after the massage (Hand et al., 2019). Hand et al, (2019) study
consisted of nurses participating in 200 massage chair sessions from January 1 through June 31,
2018. The study determined a “significant difference in nurses’ perceived stress was found from
, 3
pre- to post-session, corresponding with a 43.5% reduction” (Hand et al, 2019, p. 378).
Furthermore, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was noted with pre-session
SBP in the hypertensive range, and post-session SBP in the normal range. Having a quiet room
for nurses to have a massage chair session “provides a welcoming, supportive place for nurses to
emotionally and physically engage in self-care needs” (Hand et al., 2019, p. 379).
The second disruptive innovation to combat the issue of nurse burnout and compassion
fatigue is the use of peer-support groups. Support from peers can also help staff form healthy
habits and stay on track with goals (AHC Media). Kim & Cho (2022) conducted a study “to
calculate the combined effect size of nurse support programs on job satisfaction among hospital
nurses” (p. 1). This study named a variety of education and training, programs, workshops, and
management activities developed and conducted for nurses as nurse support programs (Kim &
Cho, 2022). During the above study, it was concluded that nurse support programs are effective
in improving the job satisfaction of new and experienced nurses (Kim & Cho, 2022). Healthcare
facilities should adopt the idea of providing nursing support groups to increase workplace
satisfaction, decrease burnout and compassion fatigue, and nurse retention.
Nurse Innovator Role
With increased work demands leading to increased psychological stress on nurses in the
field today, nurse innovators can see a problem and work toward a solution. As a master’s level
nurse, the role of nurse innovator can assume the role of a detective, a scientist, or a manager of
the healing environment. The goal of any of the three nurse innovator roles is to discover an
issue and implement innovations, policies, and/or procedures to improve healthcare.
Nurses as innovators must “leverage creativity paired with a methodological approach to solve
an existing problem through a new product, service, or strategy that meets a demonstrated market
need” (Cusson et al., 2020, p. 13).
