Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Among Psychiatric Nurses: A Narrative Review of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Evidence-Based Interventions

Abstract

Psychiatric nursing is consistently identified as one of the most emotionally demanding specialties within the nursing profession, requiring sustained therapeutic engagement with patients experiencing acute distress, behavioural disturbance, and, at times, aggression. This narrative review synthesises peer-reviewed literature published between 2016 and 2026 on the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and evidence-based mitigation strategies for burnout and compassion fatigue among psychiatric and mental health nurses. Drawing on cross-sectional surveys, randomised controlled trials, pilot intervention studies, and systematic reviews from multiple health systems, the review finds that psychiatric nurses report disproportionately high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue relative to nurses in general medical-surgical settings, with prevalence estimates for severe burnout ranging from roughly one-third to well over half of surveyed samples depending on setting, instrument, and country. Key contributing factors include high patient acuity, chronic exposure to workplace violence, inadequate staffing, limited organisational and leadership support, and the emotionally taxing nature of therapeutic relationships with individuals experiencing severe mental illness. Consequences extend beyond individual nurse well-being to affect turnover intention, workforce stability, and the quality and safety of patient care. The review further identifies a growing evidence base supporting mindfulness-based stress reduction, structured resiliency and self-compassion training, peer support programmes, and organisational leadership interventions as effective, low-cost strategies for reducing burnout and compassion fatigue while improving compassion satisfaction. The paper concludes with recommendations for nursing practice, administration, education, and policy, emphasising that sustaining a resilient psychiatric nursing workforce requires coordinated action at the individual, unit, and organisational levels rather than reliance on individual coping alone.