Work Productivity among Australian Palliative Care Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction

Abstract

Similar to their counterparts worldwide, Australian palliative care nurses played a significant role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and reported feeling overwhelmed. This research focused on the work productivity of palliative care nurses in Australia during the pandemic and associations between work productivity and professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue (CF), comprising burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), and compassion satisfaction (CS). A scoping review was first conducted on CF and CS among palliative care providers (nurses and other professionals). A correlational, cross-sectional research design was employed. Measures were collected in 2021 using an online survey with a sample of 208 nurses working in a range of palliative care settings. Participants demonstrated moderate levels of BO, STS, and CS. Work productivity was negatively associated with burnout but positively associated with CS and with STS in a nonlinear manner. Following identification of potential confounding variables and moderators of the relationships between work productivity and measures of professional quality of life, a regression model was developed to maximise the prediction of work productivity. As well as burnout, STS and CF, this model included nurses’ gender, work setting, and religiosity, and whether they had been diagnosed with COVID-19. During the pandemic, participants reported various challenges and difficulties. Fear of being infected contributed to the pressures they felt. However, they also acquired new skills, were given new responsibilities, implemented new work practices, and paid better attention to infection prevention. The work productivity of palliative care nurses can be enhanced by improving their professional quality of life. Evidence-based policy and practices are needed to address heavy workloads, staffing shortages, inadequate staff training, and risk of infection, along with improving leadership and providing better access to professional psychological support. Such changes would help optimise the quality of care provided for patients at end of life.