Compassion fatigue in palliative care: Exploring Its comprehensive impact on geriatric nursing well-being and care quality in end-of-life.

Background: This study examines the experiences of geriatric nurses in palliative care. It aims to understand how these experiences influence their well-being and the quality of care.
Methods: Conducted in the Alahsa region of Saudi Arabia, the study employs qualitative methods, utilizing in-depth interviews with 12 geriatric nurses. The analysis employs a thematic approach, enriched by iterative reflections within a multidisciplinary research team.
Results: The analysis reveals main themes: 1) the deep emotional connections between nurses and their patients; 2) the challenges faced, including compassion fatigue, high patient mortality, and communication hurdles; 3) the impact of these challenges on the quality of care, highlighting issues like diminished empathy; 4) the coping strategies used by nurses, such as self-care practices and continuous education.
Conclusions: The study concludes that coping strategies, including self-care and ongoing professional development, are vital for sustaining the nurses' well-being and ensuring the continued provision of high-quality care to Older Adults patients.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)