ACCLAIMED ACADEMIC, NURSE AND AUTHOR ADDRESSES COMPASSION FATIGUE, BURNOUT

ACCLAIMED ACADEMIC, NURSE AND AUTHOR ADDRESSES COMPASSION FATIGUE, BURNOUT

AND ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE IN LATEST BOOK FOR CAREGIVERS

In her latest book, Compassion Fatigue And Burnout In Nursing: Enhancing Professional Quality Of Life, Vidette Todaro-Franceschi, RN, PhD, FT, speaks to an audience far wider than its original intent.

“The basic tenets in this book apply to all caregivers including nurses, social workers, paramedics and physicians, veterinarians, and even family members who are responsible for the care of an ailing or aging loved one.  Caregivers of any kind are susceptible to compassion fatigue and burnout,” said Todaro-Franceschi of the book that illustrates how important it is to remain mindful of the meaning and purpose of one’s work and offers constructive steps to reconnect when feeling its loss.  “We must take care of ourselves if we are to take good care of others.”

Lisa B. Strickler, MSW, LCSW, BCD agrees.  Having also worked for more than two decades as a social worker in hospital emergency departments, Strickler has experienced first-hand the tremendous highs and lows associated with working as a caregiver, with other caregivers.

“Caregivers are historically not known for good self-care and I am guilty of that as well,” said Strickler, whose work and private practice spans greater Los Angeles including Pasadena, Whittier and Sherman Oaks.  Strickler is also a part time lecturer at Cal State University Los Angeles’s School of Social Work.  “Where does all the grief that we sometimes feel for our patients and their families go?”

Throughout the book and in her work, Todaro-Franceschi refers to ART (Acknowledge, Recognize, Turn outward towards self and others), a three step healing model that can be easily applied by anyone who is engaged in caring for others to help avoid, and when necessary, heal from compassion fatigue and burnout.

Designed to help address professional quality of life issues, the first step of ART entails Acknowledging that there is a problem and identifying what is contributing to it.  Next is Recognizing that we have choices and are able to choose actions that will help reaffirm our purpose.  The final step in ART requires Turning outward toward self and others; this step reminds us to remain connected with ourselves and others in ways that help maintain well-being.

“When caring work becomes just work, it is time to execute ART,” advises Todaro-Franceschi.  “The goal is to obtain clarity about what your priorities are and then to act on them.  ART is ongoing and steps may overlap.  The key is to be mindfully aware of your moments and actions.  Remember, there are always choices.”

“Caregivers are witness to incredible tragedies on a regular basis.  There is no question in my mind that experiencing this type of grief and exposure to life-altering struggles has to affect our own mental health,” continued Strickler.  “While it does expose us to life’s worst pains, it also makes me, and others, appreciate and value life so much more.  I personally try to deal with compassion fatigue and secondary trauma exposure by trying to focus on the up side, appreciating life, valuing family and friends, admiring the strong work of other caregivers and taking care of myself.”

Todaro-Franceschi, who is an End of Life Care educator and consultant, also addresses facing dying and death in her book – topics that many health care professionals are not taught in school but which are crucial for any caregiver.

With more than 30 years experience in the health care industry, Todaro-Franceschi, has worked in a variety of acute and long-term settings in medicine, surgery, and critical care as a staff nurse, administrator, clinical specialist, educator, and consultant. She is a tenured professor and coordinator of the Clinical Nurse Leader Graduate Program at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, and Doctoral Nursing Faculty at the Graduate Center, both of the City University of New York.

More information may be found at Todaro-Franceschi’s website www.qualitycaring.org.

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