Impact Compassion Satisfaction, Fatigue, and Burnout Among Critical Care Nurses on Professional Quality of Life

Background: A number of issues, such as burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction, influence the work-life balance of critical care nurses. The demanding nature of critical care settings subjects nurses to significant emotional stress, highlighting the importance of evaluating their professional well-being to ensure both their safety and optimal patient outcomes. Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess critical care nurses' quality of work life, specifically with respect to burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction. Methods. The study utilized a quantitative, cross-sectional approach carried out across various critical care units in three major hospitals: Alsader Medical Hospital, Alhakem Hospital, and Alnajaf Teaching Hospital. Validated scales measured Quality of professional life (QPL) components among 125 eligible nurses. Results: Participants were predominantly female (76.0%), with a mean age of 32.5 years (±5.8 SD). High compassion fatigue was reported by 57.6% of nurses, while only 28.8% experienced high compassion satisfaction. These outcomes were significantly more prevalent in ICUs versus CCUs (p<0.05). A significant inverse correlation emerged between daily patient load and compassion satisfaction (r=−0.217, p=0.015), whereas patient load positively correlated with compassion fatigue (r=0.42, p<0.001). Conclusion: The results show that critical care nurses, especially those working in intensive care units, have concerning levels of compassion weariness in contrast to a low level of compassion fulfillment. Healthcare administrators must prioritize workforce strategies that mitigate fatigue and burnout while fostering compassion satisfaction through workload management and targeted support programs.