Front-line nurses suffer from digital fatigue

Front-line nurses typically spend 35% of their shift on digital documentation ─ exceeding the amount of time they spend on patient care, contributing to compassion fatigue and burnout. Nurses who provide care via telehealth are particularly susceptible to digital compassion fatigue because it is more difficult to provide empathetic care via a computer screen. Telehealth makes it more challenging for nurses to perceive nonverbal cues and receive feedback from patients, compelling them to work harder to get information and amplify their expressions or exaggerate verbal warmth to ensure their interactions are empathetic. Providing telehealth care also can be isolating for nurses. Intentional screen breaks, clear communication boundaries and institutional policies permitting breaks from technology can address digital compassion fatigue. (MedScape article, 2/4/26)