Navigating Compassion Fatigue: Nurses in Maintaining Empathy in High-Stress Environments

In today’s demanding healthcare settings, compassion fatigue has become a pressing concern among nurses, especially those working in high-stress environments like Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Units. This study explores the lived experiences of nurses grappling with emotional exhaustion while striving to maintain empathy in clinical practice. Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with registered nurses in selected hospitals within Benguet province who have direct exposure to high-stress clinical areas. Thematic analysis revealed five core themes: (1) “The Burden of Empathy: When Caring Becomes Overwhelming”; (2) “The Cost of Compassion: Erosion of Empathy and Emotional Detachment”; (3) “The Fight for Balance—Strategies to Sustain Emotional and Physical Wellbeing”; (4) “The Role of Support: Connection as a Protective Shield Against Burnout”; and (5) “Transformation Through Adversity: The Growth That Emerges from Struggle.” Participants reported emotional depletion often leads to numbness and diminished care quality. However, many employed strategies to sustain empathy, such as mindfulness, physical activity, and spiritual.