Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue of Nurses in Emergency Paramedics and Ambulance Response Units : Basis for Stress Management Plan / Olinares, Rex N.

Nursing profession could be self-fulfilling and rewarding. However, nurses are also prone to severe stress like burnout and secondary traumatic stress. The aim of this study is to assess the level of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue of selected nurses working in emergency paramedics and ambulance response units in the province of Bataan during the first quarter of year 2016. A total of 94 registered nurses (RNs) within the 12 municipalities of Bataan answered the survey forms. They were selected using the random sampling technique. The main instrument used to assess the level of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue was the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale version 5 developed by B. Hudnall Stamm (2009). The instrument described compassion satisfaction as a standalone scale, while compassion fatigue was divided into two subscales namely: burnout scale and secondary traumatic stress scale. The data were statistically treated using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that nurses' level of compassion satisfaction is high, level of compassion fatigue in terms of burnout is low, and level of compassion fatigue in terms of secondary traumatic stress is average. Analysis of variance showed that there was significant difference in compassion satisfaction in terms of sex, position held, seminars and trainings attended. There was also significant difference in burnout level in terms of age and civil status. In addition, personal profiles of the respondents were not significant to secondary traumatic stress level. Recommendations were given to formulate an improved stress management plan among pre-hospital emergency care nurses was emphasized.