Nonprofit Organizations' Employees and Compassion Fatigue

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to present the research findings related to employees of nonprofit organizations and compassion fatigue and burnout using the ProQOL R-IV, Professional Quality of Life Scale. Nurse practitioners are compared to social workers, hospice workers, clergy and other helping professions.

 

Review of Literature: Corey-Souza (2009) looked at the three variables in a nonprofit group in Florida and found a strong negative correlation between compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue and that job burnout and gender are the strongest predictors of compassion fatigue. Sprang and Clark (2007) studied mental health workers and found higher levels of compassion fatigue in psychiatrists than in their nonmedical counterparts. Figley (2000) has a work synopsis on his web site and contrasts compassion fatigue with burnout and PTSD. Abendroth and Flannery (2006) utilize the theories of Neumann, Selye, and Figley and predicted the risk of compassion fatigue development in hospice nurses.  Kraus (2005) describes compassion fatigue and burnout rates involving mental health professionals working with sex offenders.

Methodology:  Survey monkey was used to distribute a two part questionnaire.  One part was job satisfaction questions and one part was the ProQol-R-IV Scale.  Survey monkey was distributed electronically, by snail mail, and at local meetings.

Results:   Two hundred and fifty useable surveys were analyzed.  Comparisons of burnout and compassion fatigue were made among a variety of nonprofit employees.

Implications for nurse practitioners:  Burnout and compassion fatigue are two conditions which are increasing in helping professions. Nurse Practitioners may use the four risk factors of Frank and Karioth (2006) which are empathetic nature, history of personal traumatic experiences, unresolved trauma in one’s life, and traumatic events involving children will assist both the employee and he health care provider. Increasing coping skills (Abendroth & Flannery, 2006) and classes for care givers may help ‘helpers’ prevent compassion fatigue. Promoting an exercise schedule, a good support system, spirituality and a high level of compassion satisfaction are methods NPs may use as preventive measures.  It is recommended that people with scores above 17 look at what may frighten them in their job or if there are other reasons.