Fight the Burn

Introduction: Health care workers, especially those in pediatrics, have a high risk for compassion fatigue (CF). A wellness program (WP) might help decrease CF and increase compassion satisfaction (CS).

Method: This project implemented and evaluated a WP in a pediatric postanesthesia care unit at a large children's hospital. The project evaluated the effectiveness of a WP using pre- and post-WP surveys, which assessed CF (i.e., burnout and secondary traumatic stress), CS, and overall satisfaction with the WP.

Results: Overall results demonstrated decreases in CF and increases in CS, self-care, healthy behaviors, and knowledge of CF. The perceived level of teamwork, morale, recognition, social support, and positive coworker interactions also increased. Overall, 77% of the respondents thought the WP helped decrease CF.

Discussion: Implementing a WP that incorporates social support, education, and healthy behaviors had significant benefits, including a reduction in CF.

Rank: 93

First Author: Schorch

Outcome: Emot. Exhaust./Comp. Fatig.,Burnout,Intervention Experience,PTSD

Outcome p-value: Emotional Exhaustion/Compassion Fatigue:●, Burnout:●, Intervention Experience:●, PTSD:●

Intervention Category: Coping Skills Development,Peer Support

Time per Employee (hours): No time specified.

D&B Study Quality Rating: 12

Reviewer Confidence: 1.5

Country: US

Study Design Type: Quasi-experimental

Materials Available to Implement: Intervention outlined in publication. Corresponding author: kristen.schorch@nortonhealthcare.org

Organiz./Individ. Focus: Individual / Organizational

Prevention Category: Secondary

Effect size Small:

Effect size Medium:

Reference: Schorch, K., Stamm, R., Priddy, D., & Taylor, C. (2021). A Wellness Program to Decrease Pediatric Postanesthesia Care Unit Staff Compassion Fatigue. Journal of Pediatric Health Ca : Official Publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners, jml, 8709735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.04.003