Journal article
Compassion Fatigue Among Australian Oncology Nurses Caring for Adult Cancer Patients: Antecedents, Impact and Mediators
Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.81(9), pp.5984-5995
2025
Appears in Cancer Research Cluster Research Collection
Abstract
Aims
To explore how Australian oncology nurses perceive and experience compassion fatigue when caring for adult cancer patients, how they mitigate compassion fatigue and identify potential interventions to address compassion fatigue.
Design
A qualitative, descriptive study.
Methods
Twenty Australian oncology nurses caring for adult cancer patients were interviewed between August and September 2023. Participants were recruited from a larger, quantitative study. Interviews were conducted virtually, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified. Participants viewed heavy workloads, low staffing and organisational support as contributing factors to compassion fatigue. They described compassion fatigue as a feeling of having nothing left to give, impacting their ability to self-care, deliver quality patient care and maintain relationships. The pride participants felt in their cancer care work helped mitigate compassion fatigue. Self-care strategies, workplace mentoring and support were identified as ways to mitigate compassion fatigue.
Conclusion
The work of oncology nurses can contribute to compassion fatigue, which may impact nurses and patient care. Organisations would benefit from supporting staff to engage in self-care activities, professional development and mentoring.
Implications for Professional
Findings support a multi-tiered approach to addressing compassion fatigue among oncology nurses. Organisations can prioritise adequate staffing levels, mentoring opportunities, focused well-being interventions and provide avenues for meaningful recognition.
Reporting Method
This study adheres to the COREQ reporting guidelines.
Patient or Public Contribution
No patient or public contribution.
Details
- Title
- Compassion Fatigue Among Australian Oncology Nurses Caring for Adult Cancer Patients: Antecedents, Impact and Mediators
- Authors
- Janneka Banks (Corresponding Author) - Central Queensland UniversityVioleta Lopez - Central Queensland UniversityDeependra Kaji Thapa - Central Queensland UniversityAshlyn Sahay - Central Queensland UniversityMichelle Cleary - Central Queensland University
- Publication details
- Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.81(9), pp.5984-5995
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1111/jan.16733
- ISSN
- 1365-2648
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
- Data Availability
- The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing; Cancer Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991093198902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
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