A hospice nurse tells another nurse that they are feeling overwhelmed after caring for multiple clients who are dying and reports having difficulty feeling sympathy for their clients. The nurse has manifestations of which of the following conditions?

Choice A reason: Adventitious stress refers to stress caused by external disasters or crises, such as natural disasters or community-wide emergencies. This does not apply to the nurse’s situation, which is related to cumulative emotional strain from caregiving. Choice B reason: Prolonged grief disorder involves persistent and disabling grief following the death of a loved one. The nurse is not grieving a personal loss but is experiencing emotional exhaustion from repeated exposure to dying clients. Choice C reason: Compassion fatigue occurs when caregivers become emotionally drained from continuous exposure to suffering and trauma. It manifests as reduced empathy, emotional exhaustion, and difficulty maintaining therapeutic relationships. The nurse’s report of feeling overwhelmed and struggling to feel sympathy aligns directly with compassion fatigue. Choice D reason: PTSD involves re-experiencing traumatic events, hyperarousal, and avoidance behaviors. While caregiving can be stressful, the nurse’s symptoms do not indicate trauma re-experiencing but rather emotional exhaustion, making PTSD an inaccurate diagnosis here.