A distant pondering thought amongst health professionals. Throughout clinical rotations, we are not only physiotherapists that assist with rehabilitation, but our patients also confide in us with regards to personal dilemmas. Even more so our patients rely on us more than expected. Throughout my clinical rotations, I have had experiences of death which lead me to be cautious to a patient with a similar condition as the previous who has passed on. We encounter so many scenarios that make us query how we can be of further assistance to them which in turn leads to fatigue, burnout without our realization.
As students, our clinical practice module exposes us to various conditions in an inpatients setting and outpatient setting. My previous block was an inpatient setting. On my rotation, I had a patient that was progressing, despite her view that she was not. She initially needed assistance with all her transfers and kept mentioning that the Lord has to take her, within the session she was able to go from lying to sitting at the edge of the bed independently (in which she prior was unable to do), she was so excited, and at that point the encouragement and guidance was all she needed. Within a few minutes of sitting, she demanded to return to bed. I did as the patient requested. She then returned to repeating that the Lord should take her. I spoke to the Dr about her psychological state and that referral for psychology. This response brought a sense of failure as a therapist, was I not giving the patient my best? Was encouraging and lending an ear too little?
During clinical rotations experienced what they would define as compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is defined by Figley (2002) as a state of tension and preoccupation within an individual. It has a sudden emergency, with no warning, which includes a sense of helplessness and confusion. I was querying my confidence as a patient. I started reviewing my techniques and my approach towards the sessions to improve the rehabilitation sessions. Eventually, it started affecting my treatments with other patients; I would push myself to give the patients more than I could. By the third week, I felt drained, my mental state was that I no longer enjoyed the rotation as it felt as if I was not progressing, the need to constantly stress which lead to my immune system is susceptible to getting sick which lead to missing days of block. Besides the daily load of patients, there is the administration, doctors querying whether or not the patient is eligible to be discharged, the pressure of clinicians and supervisors and the expectation that is set for a fourth-year student within a tertiary setting. According to Potter et.al (2010), it has been indicated that compassion fatigue affects the professional as well as the working environment which assists in decreased productivity and an increase in more sick days. Thus know as a burnout which is a result of prolonged stress.
As students, we are encouraged to pursue coping mechanisms to handle the clinical setting and the daily pressures thereof. Many students partake in physical activity to alleviate the stresses. Students should reach out to psychologist.However, our mental health as health professionals is important and our patients are our first priorities within the workplace; but where do we draw the line?

References :
Figley, Charles R, 2002.Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self-care. Retrieved from:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jclp.10090
Potter et. Al, 2010. Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: Prevalence among Oncology Nurses. Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Olsen/publication/46820119_Compassion_Fatigue_and_Burnout_Prevalence_Among_Oncology_Nurses/links/0fcfd511a7c19700ae000000/Compassion-Fatigue-and-Burnout-Pre valence-Among-Oncology-Nurses.pdf