In this week’s short snack, we have Dr. Eleanor Stevenson back with us! This time we’re talking about the research she’s done on what it’s like to be a provider in the fertility field.
Dr. Stevenson’s research centers around the “compassion fatigue” that can weigh on fertility nurses who are not only providing care for their patients but also supporting them emotionally. Her research is based on information gathered from 200+ fertility nurses and focuses on if they experience compassion fatigue and if it leads them to want to leave this demanding profession.
Anne and Ruby discuss with Eleanor how even with all the challenges and demands of this specialized nursing field, most of these amazing professionals love their patients, love what they do, and want to keep doing it.
Finally, Eleanor shares where she wishes to take her research in the future, including defining the experience of fertility in developing countries where fertility has significant cultural stigma.
We loved talking to Dr. Eleanor Stevenson and hope you’ll also listen to her full episode where she discusses some of the other research she has done in the area of fertility, particularly on the often-disregarded “male” experience.
Some resources on compassion fatigue:
https://scholars.duke.edu/person/eleanor.stevenson
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/combating-stress/
