Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction among Registered Nurses Caring for Cancer Patients: An Explorative Survey

Compassion fatigue is a complex phenomenon, increasingly studied by health services. In addition to the analysis of the phenomenon, studies also consider the factors that influence the satisfaction deriving from nursing work, characterized by the compassion inherent in the relationship with the patient, in addition to the associated fatigue and the consequent risk of Burnout. . The aim of this study, conducted at the IOV - Veneto Oncology Institute in Padua, is to describe Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction in nurses working in oncology, where the work requires a strong degree of sensitivity. An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted on a convenience sample of nurses from homogeneous medical and surgical areas who work with cancer patients. A validated Italian version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue was applied. Socio-demographic and professional classification variables were also recorded.