Work and Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, &
Secondary Trauma Among Hospice and Palliative Nurses

Thank you for your interest in this research study.

The purpose of this study is to explore the levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary trauma and overall work satisfaction among hospice and palliative nurses and to compare nurses with with specialty certification in hospice and palliative care to those not certified on these variables.

By participating, you will contribute to a better understanding of the work experience of nurses in this specialty area.This is the first large, nationwide study of the job satisfaction, intent to leave, compassion fatigue and burnout among hospice and palliative nurses.

It is hoped that the knowledge gained will be used by employers to improve work environments and by nurses to better understand work stressors and how to cope in their work settings.

To be eligible to participate you must:

• Be a licensed nurse (LPN/VN, RN, APRN)
• Be currently employed (full- or part-time) in a position where you practice hospice and palliative nursing care

This study is funded in part by a grant from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation.

If you choose to participate, click on the link below which will take you to a preamble consent and the survey. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Participation is entirely voluntary; once you start the survey, you must complete it as you cannot save your answers and return to the site.

► Take the Survey

About the Principal Investigator

Barbara Head, Ph.D., CHPN, ACSW, FPCN, is an associate professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine where she is involved in palliative care interprofessional education, curriculum development and research.

She has been an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association for many years and served as member and President of the HPNA Board and the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses.

Her completed research includes studies of job satisfaction and attitudes towards specialty certification among hospice and palliative nursing assistants, telehealth interventions in advanced cancer, palliative care case management, and educational outcomes of a curriculum teaching  palliative care to nursing, social work, chaplaincy and medical students.

Contact Dr. Head at 502-852-3014, or barbara.head@louisville.edu.