TCRN Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep for Your Test

The correct choice identifies secondary traumatic stress and burnout as the core causes of compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue refers to the emotional strain that caregivers experience, primarily stemming from the empathetic engagement with patients who have suffered trauma or ongoing distress.

Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results from exposure to the traumatic experiences of others. For healthcare providers, particularly those in trauma or emergency settings, this can manifest as a direct emotional response to patients' suffering. It can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, such as intrusive thoughts, heightened anxiety, and emotional numbness.

Burnout, on the other hand, is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment, often resulting from chronic workplace stress. When healthcare professionals repeatedly experience the demands of caring for patients in distressing situations without adequate self-care or support, they can become emotionally depleted, leading to compassion fatigue.

Together, these factors highlight the emotional and psychological toll on caregivers in high-stress environments, making them crucial elements in the understanding of compassion fatigue's root causes. This understanding allows for better strategies to manage and prevent compassion fatigue among healthcare workers.