Which statement best differentiates burnout from compassion fatigue?

• A. Burnout is chronic workplace stress with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced efficacy.
• B. Burnout occurs only in healthcare settings, while stress and compassion fatigue occur in any job.
• C. Compassion fatigue is identical to burnout.
• D. Vicarious trauma refers to direct exposure to trauma.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how burnout is defined and how it differs from compassion fatigue. Burnout is a pattern of work-related strain that persists over time and impairs functioning, with three hallmark features: emotional exhaustion (feeling drained by work), depersonalization (developing cynical or detached attitudes toward those you care for), and reduced personal accomplishment or efficacy (feeling less effective in your role). This trio describes the way burnout shows up specifically in the work setting and explains why it can arise from ongoing job stress and high demands.

Compassion fatigue, on the other hand, is a form of secondary traumatic stress that comes from exposure to others’ trauma and suffering. It is related to caring for traumatized people but is not defined by the same three burnout symptoms. So a statement that names burnout’s three components best differentiates burnout from compassion fatigue.

The other options aren’t as precise: burnout isn’t limited to healthcare settings, compassion fatigue isn’t simply burnout in another form, and vicarious trauma involves exposure to others’ trauma rather than a burnout pattern.