The silent strain beyond the screen: conceptualizing digital compassion fatigue in nursing

Abstract Background: The integration of digital technologies into healthcare has transformed the way nurses deliver care. While these advancements improve access and efficiency, they also introduce new emotional demands. One emerging phenomenon is Digital Compassion Fatigue (DCF), a form of emotional exhaustion experienced by nurses who provide empathic care through virtual platforms. Aim: To conceptually analyze DCF using Walker and Avant’s eight-step model and to identify its defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. Methods: A concept analysis design guided