Journal of Advanced Nursing

Interventions Addressing Compassion Fatigue Among Nurses: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Aim

To identify and synthesise intervention programs designed to address compassion fatigue among nurses, with a focus on their types and core characteristics.

Design

A scoping review.

Methods

This review was conducted according to the scoping review guidelines proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and met the requirements of PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Data Sources

Literature published between January 2015 and March 2025 was thoroughly searched in Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, APA PsycNet, Science Direct, and ProQuest. Major search terms included ‘compassion fatigue’, ‘secondary traumatic stress’, ‘burnout’, ‘nurses’ and ‘intervention’.

Results

Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were categorised as: (1) Enhancement of Organisation and Social Support, (2) Development of Individual Psychological Capacities, (3) Systemic-level Interventions, these results align with the framework of the job demands resources theory.

Conclusion

This review highlights diversity in the focus. While some emphasised on strengthening the job resources and building the personal individual-based resources, few others focused on system level interventions to address compassion fatigue in nurses. The findings also emphasise the importance and need for customised and accessible support strategies at both individual and organisational levels. Nurse well-being and resilience interventions promote balanced job settings and quality health care support.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This review provides a foundation for designing comprehensive, empirically supported strategies to address compassion fatigue in nursing. Future research should focus on integrating individual and systemic support to build a healthy work environment.

Impact

This review helps to understand the core characteristics and types of existing interventions addressing compassion fatigue among nurses, and highlights the need to focus on both individual as well as organisational needs and outcomes, thereby enhancing the well-being of nurses and creating healthy work environments.

Reporting Method

PRISMA-ScR was used in this scoping review.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.