Learn Well for Student Success

Strategic Self-care to Avoid Compassion Fatigue

Rachel Charron

The Betty Ford Foundation defines compassion fatigue as "a state of exhaustion and dysfunction derived from the empathic responses to others' suffering, which diminishes professionals' ability to provide compassionate care." Students in the School of Health Science and Wellness enter fields where this cost of caring is high and it's important to highlight how success in the short and long-term for our students depends on self-care that is designed to protect from compassion fatigue. In this episode are Joined by Associate Professor Jess Bowers and  we will start by breaking down what compassion fatigue looks like and how it impacts practitioner wellness. Then, she will help us explore the importance of proactive resourcing—taking steps to care for yourself before stress hits—and reactive resourcing—finding ways to recover and recharge when you're already feeling overwhelmed. We'll also discuss how supportive employers play a vital role in fostering a healthy work environment.