Background: Oncology nurses have frequent contact with oncology patients during their cancer journey. This long-term, recurrent contact can impact the health and well-being of the nurse through the development of compassion fatigue (CF).
Objectives: To identify what contributes to CF and what individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors mitigate CF among oncology nurses caring for adult patients.
Methods: A scoping review framework by Arksey and O'Malley guided this review. Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. A blinded screening process was undertaken by the authors using the following inclusion criteria: English language published from January 2011 to December 2021, primary research peer-reviewed studies, and focusing on CF within oncology nurses caring for adult patients in any practice setting.
Results: Nineteen studies (21 articles) were identified. The review found nurses' personal beliefs around nursing care being provided, and personality traits of psychological inflexibility, neuroticism, passive coping, and avoidance contributed to CF. Workplace conflict and lack of a healthy work-life balance also contributed to CF. However, nurses' personal resilience, ability to positively reflect upon their work, a supportive team environment, and continuing education were found to mitigate CF.
Conclusions: Levels of CF vary among oncology nurses caring for adult patients. Oncology nurses may benefit from personal and organizational resources aimed at improving oncology nurses' professional quality of life while decreasing CF.
Implications for practice: Consideration and future research of effective interventions are needed to sustain a future health workforce and mitigate CF among oncology nurses.
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