Week 10 Discussion
Putting It Together
Evaluation of a DNP QI Project Using a Mixed Methods Approach
Rampersad (2023) conducted a mixed methods DNP quality improvement project that
examined the relationship between compassion fatigue and general health complaints among
oncology nurses. The question addressed was practice-focused, with an emphasis on how
oncology nurses perceive compassion fatigue and whether there is a correlation between
compassion fatigue and general health symptoms. The quantitative component involved 55
participants who completed validated instruments, which were the Professional Quality of
Life Scale (ProQOL-5) and the Giessen Subjective Complaints Brief Form, which measured
secondary traumatic stress, physical complaints such as cardiovascular issues, exhaustion,
and gastrointestinal issues as well as burnout (Rampersad, 2023).
The qualitative portion (n=15) explored in personal perceptions through open-ended
responses, with the identification of themes such as the need for organizational support,
emotional exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed (Rampersad, 2023). The combination did
allow for a holistic understanding of the issue, linking it to the statistical trends with the lived
experiences behind them.
Relationship to the Practice-Focused Question
From the study, the practice-focused question explored how nurses perceive
compassion fatigue and whether a measurable relationship exists between compassion fatigue
and general health complaints (Rampersad, 2023). Through the quantitative component
addressed, there was an objective measurement of burnout, physical health symptoms, and
traumatic stress by the use of standardized tools. The tools provided statistically significant
correlations between compassion fatigue and symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain,
exhaustion, and gastrointestinal issues. In complementation of the quantitative data, the
Putting It Together
Evaluation of a DNP QI Project Using a Mixed Methods Approach
Rampersad (2023) conducted a mixed methods DNP quality improvement project that
examined the relationship between compassion fatigue and general health complaints among
oncology nurses. The question addressed was practice-focused, with an emphasis on how
oncology nurses perceive compassion fatigue and whether there is a correlation between
compassion fatigue and general health symptoms. The quantitative component involved 55
participants who completed validated instruments, which were the Professional Quality of
Life Scale (ProQOL-5) and the Giessen Subjective Complaints Brief Form, which measured
secondary traumatic stress, physical complaints such as cardiovascular issues, exhaustion,
and gastrointestinal issues as well as burnout (Rampersad, 2023).
The qualitative portion (n=15) explored in personal perceptions through open-ended
responses, with the identification of themes such as the need for organizational support,
emotional exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed (Rampersad, 2023). The combination did
allow for a holistic understanding of the issue, linking it to the statistical trends with the lived
experiences behind them.
Relationship to the Practice-Focused Question
From the study, the practice-focused question explored how nurses perceive
compassion fatigue and whether a measurable relationship exists between compassion fatigue
and general health complaints (Rampersad, 2023). Through the quantitative component
addressed, there was an objective measurement of burnout, physical health symptoms, and
traumatic stress by the use of standardized tools. The tools provided statistically significant
correlations between compassion fatigue and symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain,
exhaustion, and gastrointestinal issues. In complementation of the quantitative data, the
