護理人員在照護病患的過程中,因持續接觸而有過度投入於病患傷害及痛苦的經歷中,這樣的經驗會佔據著護理人員的心思而產生負面症狀,此狀態稱為悲憫疲憊。悲憫疲憊的前因包括長時間持續接觸受創個案、過度投入照護情境中、關懷(caring)能量過度耗竭而且來不及恢復。若護理人員未能獲得良好的調適及因應,將可能影響其身心健康,進而影響照護品質,增加醫療缺失,導致護理人員離職之後果。許多學者建議透過評估個人情境並調整工作態度、提供在職教育課程和增加支持系統的方式可減輕或避免悲憫疲憊的產生,以及預防不良後果的發生。國內鮮少針對護理人員因照護病患而引發悲憫疲憊的狀況進行研究探討,因此,本文希冀藉由闡述悲憫疲憊的定義、嚴重性、後果及因應策略,期望可帶動學者研究此現象,以發展相關理論或是確切有效的處理措施。
Over-involvement in patient trauma and loss in clinical settings negatively affects nurses and may cause compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is associated with prolonged exposure to trauma cases, over-involvement in patient situations and over-extending caring energies. Nurses unable to adapt and cope may suffer physically and psychologically, reduce their quality of care, cause medical care costs to increase, and ultimately become frustrated and decide to leave the nursing profession. While current approaches to addressing compassion fatigue focus on evaluating individual nurse situations, adjusting attitudes, holding education programs, and bolstering support systems, little research attention has been directed toward the consequences of such on patient care or the origins of compassion fatigue in Taiwan nurses. This paper defines compassion fatigue, examines its importance and consequences, and delineates common nursing coping strategies in Taiwan. Findings expand domestic research on this phenomenon and suggest relevant theories and effective interventions to achieve remediation.