Compassion fatigue in Chinese internship nursing students in junior college: scale validation, prevalence, and psychological mechanisms

Identifier:  TDX:4542

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4542

Authors:  Yi, Lijuan

Abstract:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of compassion fatigue among nursing professionals garnered widespread attention. However, research on compassion fatigue in junior college nursing interns has been relatively scarce, leading to a lack of in-depth understanding of their specific challenges. To address this research gap, this study aimed to validate an assessment tool tailored for this population and explore the underlying psychological mechanisms of compassion fatigue. Through five independent research methods, this study systematically analyzed the manifestation of compassion fatigue among nursing interns. First, a bibliometric analysis revealed a significant increase in compassion fatigue research during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on healthcare providers. Second, a systematic review and meta-analysis found moderate levels of compassion fatigue among both nursing interns and registered nurses during their internships, identifying key influencing factors such as work environment, social support, workload, job satisfaction, and psychological capital. Third, the study validated the Chinese version of the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, confirming its effectiveness and reliability for this specific group. Fourth, a provincial survey found that junior college nursing interns generally experience moderate levels of compassion fatigue, with approximately 19.5% of students at high risk of developing compassion fatigue.