Use of Mind-Body Exercise Performed by Nurses to Effectively Decrease Compassion Fatigue: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

This integrative literature review was conducted to explore the effects of mind-body based interventions used by nurses to reduce symptoms of compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is the physical, emotional and mental exhaustion a caregiver can develop from tending to patients suffering emotional and physical pain. Compassion fatigue is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly prevalent among nurses, particularly those caring for traumatized patients. Compassion fatigue can hinder the quality of patient care, as well as negatively impact a nurse’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. The conceptual framework utilized to guide this literature review is Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model. The goal of the integrative literature review was to uncover commonalities among successful interventions, as well as identify limitations of existing programs, to establish the most effective intervention for those suffering from compassion fatigue. Research findings provide preliminary evidence that mind-body based exercises such as meditation and deep breathing can significantly reduce compassion fatigue among at-risk nurses. Additional research is needed to determine the most cost-effective, readily accessible, and universally excepted mind-body based interventions that can provide long-term health benefits to nurses experiencing compassion fatigue. Keywords: compassion fatigue, nursing, mindfulness