Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Spring 2008

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Dr. Liane Connelly

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was threefold: to explore the relationship between (a) self-care and compassion fatigue, (b) years of nursing experience and compassion fatigue, and (c) age and compassion fatigue among nurses in the acute care setting. The selected demographics were age, years of experience, gender, area worked, and educational level. A combination of Charles Figley’s Compassion Fatigue Model (Figley, 2002) and nurse theorist Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parson, 2002) were the theoretical frameworks for this research. The participants (N-187) were registered nursed who worked at least 20 hours per week in two Midwest hospitals. Data were collected using three tools: the Shima demographic tool to obtain participant information, the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II; Walker & Hill-Polerecky, 2001) to assess level of self-care, and the Professional Quality of Life Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Subscales Revision IV (PROQOLR-IV; Stamm, 2005) to measure level of compassion fatigue, Compassion fatigue was correlated with self-care, age, and years of nursing experience using Pearson’s correlational analysis. Findings indicated a statistically significant relationship did not exist between compassion fatigue and age. The results also suggested no relationship between years of nursing experience and compassion fatigue level. The analysis did show a relationship between compassion fatigue and self-care. Additionally, relationships between self-care score (HPLP) and satisfaction and HPLP score and burnout were also present. The analysis also showed a significant difference between the compassion satisfaction scores of OB and ER nurses.

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Rights

© 2008 Michelle Shima

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