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Title
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WHEN CARING HURTS: EXPLORING COMPASSION FATIGUE AMONG NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT NURSES
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Affiliation
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Misamis University
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Degree Program
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Master of Arts in Nursing major in Maternal and Child Nursing (MAN-MCN)
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Contributor
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Revelo, Judy Jane S. - Adviser
Zacal, Anna Grace A. - Panel Member
Taghoy, Sammy B. - Panel Member
Duyag, Merasol O. - Panel Member
Superable, Cynthia S. - Chairman
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Year
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2026
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Abstract
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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses face intense physical, emotional, and
cognitive demands that influence their experiences of compassion fatigue. This study
explored how NICU nurses in government hospitals in Zamboanga del Norte experienced compassion fatigue within the NICU environment. Using a transcendental phenomenological design guided by Moustakas’ existential dimensions, seven NICU nurses meeting the inclusion criteria were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Moustakas’ approach for qualitative analysis. Findings revealed six major themes: navigating emotional and physical demands while sustaining resilience and compassion; navigating the pressured space of the NICU environment; temporal development of resilience and compassion; relational anchors in sustaining resilience and managing compassion fatigue; material and technological aspects in NICU: balancing stress and resilience, and resilience and sense of self development through experience. Nurses reported that repeated exposure to high-stress situations, reflective practice and intentional self-care fostered resilience, professional identity and emotional well-being, while supportive relationships and effective use of medical
technology mitigated compassion fatigue. The study concludes that resilience, self-awareness and professional identity develop over time through experiential learning and coping strategies. It is recommended that hospital administrators and educators implement structured self-care programs and mentorship to support nurses’ well-being and professional growth.
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Keywords
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compassion fatigue, NICU nurses, professional identity, resilience, self-care
