What Color is Your Traffic Light? Exploring Compassion Fatigue in Caregivers

Question 27:

Which of the following is not one of the three "C's" that relate to the concerns children have when their loved one is dying?

a) Could I catch it? b) Who will care for me? c) Did I cause it? d) Can I cure it?

Question 28:

Which of the following expresses truth about loss and grief?

a) Only the elderly experience loss and grief b) Everyone grieves and eventually gets over it c) Grief is a whole person experience d) Denial is an ineffective way to cope with grief

Question 29:

The dying person often experiences decreased intake and involuntary weight loss. This is not stressful for the family:

a) True b) False

Questions 30-32:

Indicate "a" for Green, "b" for Yellow, or "c" for Red.

Question 30:

You feel your very best before work, you are well-rested, and excited to go to work with your clients who are receiving palliative care. What color is your traffic light?

a) Green b) Yellow c) Red

Question 31:

You are feeling tired and stressed. It’s hard to get out of bed and if one more person asks you to go do something for them, you are going to crack. Life is busy at home, you don’t feel like working and looking after anyone other than yourself. What color is your traffic light?

a) Green b) Yellow c) Red

Question 32:

You have been working for the same employer for 10 years and you have loved your job so far, but lately you have noticed that the workload has increased and you frequently work short staffed. You are feeling like you don’t like your job anymore and maybe it’s time to move on to something else before you really hate it. What color is your traffic light:

a) Green b) Yellow c) Red

Answer:

27. a) Could I catch it?

28. c) Grief is a whole person experience

29. b) False

30. a) Green

31. c) Red

32. b) Yellow

In this response, we address concerns children have when a loved one is dying, express truths about loss and grief, assess traffic light colors to identify compassion fatigue, rate a client's condition using the PPS, discuss post-mortem care, and discuss opioids and constipation.

Explanation:

Compassion fatigue, also known as secondary traumatic stress (STS), is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to the suffering and distress of others, particularly in caregiving or helping professions.

27. The answer is d) Can I cure it?

28. The answer is c) Grief is a whole person experience.

29. The answer is b) False. The decreased intake and weight loss of the dying person can be stressful for the family.

30. The answer is a) Green. Feeling well-rested and excited about work indicates a positive state of mind.

31. The answer is c) Red. Feeling tired, stressed, and unable to cope with additional responsibilities indicates a negative state of mind.

32. The answer is b) Yellow. Feeling dissatisfied and considering a career change suggests a cautionary state of mind.