A nurse may develop Compassion Fatigue as the emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. Depends

Answer: (B)

Compassion fatigue is the emotional toll that caregivers experience from prolonged exposure to others’ trauma through empathetic engagement. For nurses, repeatedly hearing patients’ traumatic stories, witnessing suffering, and carrying the emotional weight of others’ pain can accumulate and show up as fatigue, emotional numbness, irritability, sleep disturbances, and a decreased ability to feel compassion. The statement describes this exact process—the emotional residue or strain from working with people affected by traumatic events—so it accurately reflects what compassion fatigue is. It’s a recognized risk in helping professions and can occur even when burnout factors like workload aren’t the primary driver, though burnout and secondary traumatic stress can accompany it.