Definitionv1DF-718
Compassion fatigue
the progressive emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion that occurs when caring for others becomes unbounded and without limits, leading to depletion of emotional resources and degradation of the quality of care provided
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the specific meaning of 'compassion fatigue' within this curriculum context by identifying its genus (exhaustion syndrome) and differentia (caused by unbounded caring). It distinguishes it from general exhaustion by specifying it occurs specifically in caring contexts and emphasizes the mechanism of resource depletion leading to degraded care quality. The definition is precise enough to distinguish it from related concepts like 'burnout' or 'emotional exhaustion' and connects it to the boundary theme.