Here is a follow up to our last post on compassion fatigue and the task of doing an inventory of past or current experiences that have had an impact on us.

I am including an example of how I approached my inventory:

Macro-look at experiences that contributed to cumulative fatigue over time:

• Medical visits (clinical, illness-related)
• Emergency services calls (crime in progress)
• Worker’s Compensation interviews/med screening
• Depositions
• Computer/Tech calls
• Customer service

Micro-look at experiences that impacted me directly and stuck:

• Gestational diabetes clinic (1992-1993)
• Domestic violence calls (Summer 1993, graveyard shift)
• SIDS call (Fall 1993)
• “Guadalupe” and her baby with cerebral palsy (July 1995)