Dealing with Emotional Vulnerability and Anxiety in Nurses from High-Risk Units-A Multicenter Study

Compassion fatigue and anxiety derived from continued exposure to trauma and death greatly impact nurses' quality of care and quality of life, increasing their desire to leave work. The aim of the study is to assess compassion fatigue and anxiety prevalence and their association with secondary variables. A multicenter, cross-sectional study in nurses from four high-risk units, Emergency, Intensive Care, Oncology, and Pediatrics, was carried out in 14 hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) between 2015 and 2016. The primary endpoints were compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress), which were assessed by Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL), and anxiety, assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Multivariable logistic regression analyzed the association of sociodemographic, training, working, and psychological factors. Of a total of 1302 nurses, 18.6% presented low compassion satisfaction; 19.7%, high burnout; and 36.4%, high secondary traumatic stress. Trait anxiety scored high in 7.2%. Although compassion satisfaction was present, it did not protect sufficiently against the high level of compassion fatigue or anxiety present in nurses in all centers. The working conditions in the units and variables showed a strong association with nurses' desire to leave. This corroborates the global challenge of healthcare professionals' shortage. Participants expressed the need for better training in emotional management.

Automated summary

Compassion fatigue and anxiety resulting from continuous exposure to trauma and death have a significant impact on nurses' quality of care and quality of life, leading to an increased desire to leave their jobs. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of compassion fatigue and anxiety among nurses and their association with other variables. The results showed that a considerable number of nurses experienced low compassion satisfaction, high burnout, and high secondary traumatic stress. Despite the presence of compassion satisfaction, it did not sufficiently protect nurses against the high levels of compassion fatigue and anxiety. The working conditions in the units and various factors were strongly associated with nurses' intention to leave. This highlights the global challenge of a shortage of healthcare professionals and emphasizes the need for better training in emotional management.