Date

5-20-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

David Martinez

Keywords

Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, Chaplain, Peer Support Group, Hospice, Self-Care, End-of-Life Care, Staff support

Disciplines

Religion

Abstract

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research project was to help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among the clinical staff at Choices Healthcare. Burnout and compassion fatigue are becoming a healthcare crisis, and hospice agencies are no different. The study was open to any member of the clinical staff, which included chaplains, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and the team leaders of each team in the organization. The study aimed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue through a series of chaplain-facilitated group education and processing sessions. Humans are relational beings, and getting together to share experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space is essential to staff. These sessions were designed to allow staff to come together to process the difficult aspects of hospice work and learn about burnout and compassion fatigue. Data was collected through a mixed-methods approach, including a pre-study survey, group sessions, a post-session questionnaire, and a post-study survey. The data from these methods showed that staff felt burnout and compassion fatigue, and that those who attended the group sessions felt the sessions helped them recognize symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue while also reducing the burnout and compassion fatigue they were experiencing.

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