Compassion Fatigue within the Nursing Profession: A Historical Issue impacted by Pandemic Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major stressor on society, but the impact of COVID-19 on nurses has been much worse. Throughout the history of the profession compassion fatigue has been an ongoing issue, but with the pandemic the issue has become more noticeable. Many nurses are leaving the profession due to compassion fatigue and burnout. If action is not taken, the existing nursing shortage will become unmanageable. Acknowledging the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, as well as learning about appropriate interventions are useful tools in reducing the incidence of compassion fatigue. The field of nursing is an always changing discipline. The reduction of compassion fatigue for nurses will play a huge role in the future of the profession. The goal of this presentation is to analyze research conducted focused on compassion fatigue within the profession, how the incidence was impacted by COVID-19, and how the profession can recover