EMOTIONAL DESENSITIZATION AND ITS GENERAL IMPACT ON SELECTED EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AT DR. PAULINO J. GARCIA MEMORIAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL CENTER, CABANATUAN CITY

Abstract

International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) have highlighted mental health concerns among healthcare workers, including stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and moral distress—particularly in emergency settings. These conditions may contribute to emotional numbing or detachment from patient suffering, which are central features of emotional desensitization. Emergency physicians and nurses are frequently exposed to violence, trauma, and high-pressure environments. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals were already four times more likely than other workers to experience workplace violence, with nearly half of these incidents occurring in emergency departments. Factors such as chronic understaffing, limited access to social and mental health services, substance abuse, and overcrowded emergency rooms further intensify stress and emotional strain (Duong & Vogel, 2022). Emergency departments are also characterized by unpredictable patient presentations and heightened safety concerns, contributing to a complex and demanding work environment (A, 2022). Additionally, healthcare workers have reported daily exposure to verbal and physical abuse, including assaults involving bodily fluids, weapons, and threats with needles (Shabazz, 2021). This study examined emotional desensitization and its general impact on selected emergency physicians and nurses. This study utilized a descriptive research design with a phenomenological approach. Preliminary questionnaires were distributed to identify participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected from ten (10) emergency physicians and nurses using semi-structured interviews supported by audio recordings. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. The participants were primarily female emergency physicians and nurses aged 31 to 37, with professional experience ranging from 3 to 17 years. The findings indicated that emotional desensitization developed mainly due to stressful work environments and the influence of colleagues. Desensitization was also associated with family-related concerns, as participants reported comparing family members’ illnesses to severe clinical cases, which sometimes led to emotional distancing and strained personal relationships. To maintain efficiency in high-pressure settings, participants reported reducing emotional engagement with patients and relying on emotional resilience to manage trauma and focus on clinical tasks. Coping strategies included seeking companionship, emotional support, and establishing clear boundaries between professional and personal life to prevent burnout and promote work-life balance. The findings suggested that emotional desensitization among emergency physicians and nurses arises from prolonged exposure to stress, trauma, and workplace pressures. While desensitization may enhance task efficiency and emotional resilience, it can also result in reduced empathy toward patients and compassion fatigue affecting family relationships. To cope with these challenges, healthcare professionals emphasized the importance of social support and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life. The study underscored the need for institutional interventions that promote work-life balance, stress reduction, and mental health support to mitigate the negative effects of emotional desensitization on healthcare workers’ productivity and psychological well-being.