The Watson Room: Mitigating Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Nurses

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this project was to plan, develop, and implement “The Watson Room” or “Quiet Room” in an inpatient oncology nursing population and evaluate changes in Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL).

Background: Oncology Nurses are at high risk for compassion fatigue (CF), burn-out (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) related to the effects of living the traumas of oncology patients and their families through their cancer journey and the innate stress in a complex and intense workplace. High levels of compassion fatigue, burn-out, and secondary traumatic stress that are poorly managed reduces the nurse’s ability to self-regulate their empathy and compassion leading to negative sequela for organizations, patients, and nurses. Preventative and restorative measures accessible in the workplace will aide nurses to manage and remediate the negative aspects of compassion fatigue experienced through the care of oncology patients and their families.

Methods: Utilizing the Precede-Proceed Model, relief of compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction was measured before and after utilizing the “The Watson Room” in a pre- post-test design. Outcomes were measured with the Professional Quality of Life version V Survey (ProQOL-V).

Results: The pre-surveys indicated below average scores in CS (37.20; avg score 50), BO (22.60; avg 50), and STS (25.65; avg 50) and post-survey results were not appreciably different (CS 35.82, BO 23.65, STS 24.82). Of the interventions it was found that Modeling Clay and the Buddha Board had the most significant number of participants and were found to be moderately or extremely effective.

Implications: Although the results did not demonstrate an appreciable difference, it did show an interesting finding. The interventions used in “The Watson Room” showed that when modalities were easily accessible, they were utilized.

Conclusion: “The Watson Room” is a concept first conceived as a “Quiet Room”. C. Crewe (2016) renamed the room as the “The Watson Room” in honor of nursing theorist, Jean Watson. Her intention was to connect the use of the room to the importance of self-care.