References
To determine the effects of burnout and compassion fatigue on registered nurses' ability to deliver patient care

Abstract
Background
This review aimed to determine the effects of burnout and compassion fatigue on nurses' ability to deliver patient care and to aid in highlighting the steps required to overcome this and obtain a healthier nursing workforce.
Methods
A narrative review methodology was used. A systematic search of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) sourced 12,212 acticles.
Findings
A total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Two recurrent themes emerged from the literature. These were factors delivery of patient care and quality and safety of patient care.
Conclusion
Burnout and compassion fatigue negatively impacts the delivery, quality and safety of patient care. There is a gap in the literature examining the effect long-term burnout and compassion fatigue has on the delivery of patient care which needs to be addressed.
Burnout and compassion fatigue represent significant challenges that impact healthcare professionals worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines nurse burnout as the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration (WHO, 2019). The American Psychological Association (APA) defines nurse compassion fatigue as the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time (APA, 2022). While burnout and compassion fatigue share similarities in their detrimental effects on nurses' well-being and patient care, they differ in their underlying causes and manifestations. While burnout may result from broader systemic issues within healthcare environments, compassion fatigue is more directly linked to the emotional demands of caregiving (Peters, 2018). Burnout and compassion fatigue pose a damaging impact on both physical and mental health, leading to a lack of motivation for work and indifference towards patients, causing more patient safety incidents (Sullivan et al. 2021).
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