D EFIN IN G M O M EN TS - Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Unique program combats compassion
fatigue to improve patient care
An extremely large proportion of intense experiences—birth,
death, trauma, dire illnesses, dramatic procedures—occur at
Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The health care staff is on the front lines
of these experiences, which can lead to compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue is described as the “cost of caring”
for others in emotional pain. Compassion fatigue is a form
of traumatic stress that can cause feelings of inadequacy
as a caregiver, the inability to let go of work-related issues,
loss of hope, lack of energy and irritability. It also can cause
caregivers to become less empathetic and less engaged
with patients.
In 2009, because of concern about compassion fatigue,
three nurse managers from oncology units at Barnes-Jewish
approached Patricia Potter, RN, PhD, director of research
for patient care services, and Teresa DeShields, PhD, manager
of psycho-oncology services. Potter and DeShields conducted
a survey of staff on the oncology units and found that burnout
and secondary traumatic stress were high enough to warrant
intervention to help caregivers and patients.
“Secondary traumatic stress comes from caring for people
who are experiencing trauma,” Potter says. “Repeated
exposure to patients’ loss, pain and suffering can lead
to similar feelings in the care providers.”
As a result of the survey findings, The Foundation for
Barnes-Jewish Hospital funded a successful pilot program in
2010 for oncology nurses to combat compassion fatigue and
stress. Soon, staff in the emergency department and intensive
care units began attending compassion fatigue classes.
In 2011, The Foundation funded an initiative to roll out
the Compassion Fatigue Resiliency Program to all hospital
employees—with a recognition that even if employees are
not giving direct clinical care or treatment, they still may
be involved in caring for the hospital’s patients, and are
vulnerable to the cost of caring.
Unique in the United States, the program was developed
specifically for Barnes-Jewish by Eric Gentry, PhD, a certified
traumatologist and pioneer in the field of compassion fatigue.
Through the Compassion Fatigue Resiliency Program, the
health care staff learns skills to recognize signs and to prevent
compassion fatigue.
“It helps remind caregivers that they’re doing this to relieve
patient suffering, or to give hope,” says Cheryl Palmer,
manager of spiritual care services at Barnes-Jewish. “Being
able to help patients through stressful times, to help them
recover, to comfort their family, to changes lives and to
witness people’s lives being changed can be immensely
moving and fulfilling. It’s more than a job. It’s a calling
for some people to work in health care.”
“I can tell they’re (the nurses)
emotionally invested in
me and my outcome.”
– cindy reardon
Recognizing the connection and
commitment of nurses
Cindy Reardon knows what the cancer coaster is.
In fact, she’s been riding it for almost a year. Reardon
was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in June
2011. Immediately following her diagnosis, she had two
operations within a week. The first one, video-assisted
thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), involved draining
fluid from her right lung, since the cancer had spread.
This was done in her hometown of Marion, Ill.,
at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
She came to Barnes-Jewish for her second operation—
a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy
and staging. Since then, her treatment has
included a number of chemotherapy drugs in an attempt
to find the one that is most effective for her. She and her
Siteman Cancer Center oncologist, Matthew Powell, MD,
discuss the ups and downs of the cancer coaster. “It’s
definitely like a roller coaster because one day there is
good news and the next day it’s bad,” says Reardon.
Reardon knows that she’s not alone on the cancer coaster.
Her nurses and patient care team ride the coaster with
her, offering support and compassion when she needs it
and celebrating even the smallest successes. Lucy Hertel,
RN, is Reardon’s Barnes-Jewish nurse coordinator. As
Reardon puts it, she’s Powell’s right-hand man and the
person that Reardon calls with questions or concerns.
LEFT: The hospital’s compassion fatigue facilitators
come from all areas of the hospital including (from left)
Marty Clarke, cancer psychiatry consultations service;
Kathleen Walton, social worker; Julie Berger, chaplain,
oncology services; Brent Brazell, human resources;
Patricia Potter, director of research and patient care
services; and Cathy Powers, clinical nurse specialist.
RIGHT: Patient Cindy Reardon (left) attends one of her
last chemotherapy treatments with Lucy Hertel, RN.
“I’ve gotten to know Lucy and many of the other nurses
that help treat me. Since I’ve been coming for treatment
every three weeks, we’ve ventured into each other’s
personal lives now. I can tell they’re emotionally invested
in me and my outcome,” says Reardon.
“I wanted to show them how much I appreciate what
they’re doing for me. I treated them to Fanny May candy
at Christmas. Recently, I went to the hospital gift shop
and bought Amanda Kracen, my psychologist, a plant.
I’ve decided to bring someone a gift every time I have
an appointment,” she says.
Reardon may not be buying too many more gifts.
Her current chemotherapy medication seems to
be working wonders for her.
22 BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL • 2011 Annual Report
DEFINING MOMENTS
23
COM PA SSION FATIGU E