Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

A nurse working with suicidal patients may experience what type of emotional challenge?

1. Emotional stability

2. Burnout

3. Compassion fatigue

4. Increased resilience

The correct answer is: Compassion fatigue

Working with suicidal patients can be emotionally taxing, and the correct choice of compassion fatigue captures this challenge accurately. Compassion fatigue occurs when a caregiver experiences decreased ability to empathize or feel compassion due to the continuous exposure to trauma and suffering of others. This emotional toll can lead to fatigue, distance, and the sense of helplessness in helping patients who are in crises like suicidal ideation. In this context, compassion fatigue is a normal response for healthcare providers who frequently engage with patients in distressing emotional states. Over time, it can lead to a diminishing ability to provide effective care, which is why recognizing and managing this state is critically important within the nursing profession. Understanding this aspect can help nurses seek appropriate support and develop coping strategies to maintain their effectiveness in their roles. In contrast, emotional stability, burnout, and increased resilience do not fully encapsulate the unique emotional challenges posed by working with suicidal patients. Emotional stability would imply that the nurse is unaffected by the emotional demands of their job, which may not be realistic in such high-stress environments. Burnout is a broader concept that refers to chronic stress and exhaustion often stemming from overextension in work settings, while increased resilience suggests a positive response that develops through hardships, which is not specifically focused on the emotional