Working Environment, Empathic Concern and Compassion Fatigue in Female Staff Nurses

Abstract Background: Nursing is one of the most vital roles in the health sector, with the quality of life for nurses being influenced by various factors. Interacting with numerous clients from diverse backgrounds and addressing unique problems can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting for nurses. This exhaustion can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue, which in turn can cause health problems, interpersonal relationship issues, and mental health challenges. Objective: The study was conducted to assess the relationship between working environment, empathic concern and compassion fatigue among female staff nurses. Method: In this correlational study conducted during October 2021 to August 2022, 190 nurses with an age range of 19 -58 (M = 30.79, SD = 7.34) years from different hospitals in Lahore were approached. The participants were assessed using working environment scale, empathic concern scale of Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Compassion fatigue subscale of Professional Quality of Life scale. Results: The work experience of the nurses was reported 8.65+6.28 years with the average 6.91+1.94 working hours daily. The results concluded that self-realization in work environment is negatively associated with burnout (r = -.31, p < .01) and positively related to empathic concern (r = .16, p<.05). it was also found that workload is positively associated with secondary traumatic stress (r = .17, p < .01). Further, conflict (r = .27, p < .01) and nervousness (r = .37, p < .01) in work environment are positively associated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Results also showed that self-realization negatively (β = -.27, p < .001) and conflicts positively (β = .20, p < .05) predicted the burnout in female staff nurses. Further, conflict (β = .33, p < .001) and nervousness (β = .15, p < .05) in work environment positively predicted secondary traumatic stress. However, empathic concern did not predict any aspect of compassion fatigue. Conclusion:  This study identifies relationship of working environment, and empathic concerns to compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary traumatic stress) in female staff nurses. So, this study may be helpful in devising strategies to improve hospital environment as well as to reduce compassion fatigue in nurses. Further studies on male staff nurses is recommended. Keywords.  Compassion Fatigue, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, workload, nervousness, conflict, self-realization, empathic concerns, female staff nurses.