Abstract

PURPOSE
In this study the literature of compassion fatigue in nurses was reviewed in order to analyze the trends of overall research for level of fatigue, symptoms, and factors.
METHODS
For this study, five databases were searched using the key words 'compassion fatigue', 'secondary traumatization', 'secondary traumatic stress', and 'vicarious traumatization'. Thirty-six papers were analyzed.
RESULTS
Most of the compassion fatigue research (86%) was conducted between 2006 and 2011 and the most frequent research approach was quantitative research with the ProQOL which was the most frequently used instrument in the studies. He research was conducted in pediatric, emergency & trauma, oncology, psychiatric, and hospice units with no consistent patterns of t compassion fatigue levels. Factors affecting compassion fatigue were personal factors such as age, education background, work-related factors such as caring for trauma patients, work hours, psychological factors such as work stress, burnout, and support/coping factors such as organizational support, and coping resources.
CONCLUSION
Nurses' compassion fatigue varied from low to high by nursing specialties. Many factors affected the compassion fatigue of nurses. In the future there is a need for study on Korean nurses, and identification of groups at risk for compassion fatigue. Furthermore there is a need to develop management programs on compassion fatigue in nurses, stress reduction and wellbeing.