Compassion satisfaction, the pleasure gained from assisting others in their recovery from trauma, can help reduce the effects of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. As such, nurses’ job satisfaction can be increased by increasing compassion satisfaction and decreasing compassion fatigue. This study examined the incidence of compassion fatigue and other influencing variables, such as compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, among Saudi nurses. This was a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling. Participants comprised 177 registered nurses from various nursing departments. Data collection included the Professional Quality of Life Scale based on lifestyle, demographic details, and occupation-related questions. The averages of scores for the variables, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, were recorded (37.1 ± 7.4, 25.7 ± 7.5, and 26.7 ± 6.4). Participants aged 36 or older comprised a negative factor for compassion satisfaction, while years of nursing experience and higher job satisfaction were favorable predictors. Together, these three variables accounted for 30.3% of the overall variation. Low job satisfaction and poor sleep negatively affected burnout, accounting for 39.8% of the total variance. The results offer insights into identifying the risks of compassion fatigue in nurses and help design strategies to address burnout and secondary traumatic stress while enhancing their compassion satisfaction levels.

The role of nurse practitioners (NPs) in Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid evolution owing to the rising demand and shortage of healthcare providers. However, little is known about the lived experiences of NPs working in the Saudi healthcare system. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of NPs working in the Saudi healthcare system. A phenomenological approach with a purposive sampling technique was utilized to recruit self-identified NPs. Data were collected from ten NPs between June 2022 and December 2024 via semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to describe their lived experiences as NPs in Saudi Arabia. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s framework was conducted. The following five key themes emerged from the analysis: “self-description as an NP”; “challenges for NPs Working in Saudi Arabia”; “experiences with patients, families, and healthcare providers”; “facilitators of the NP role implementation”; and “future of the NP role in Saudi Arabia.” Participants described themselves as specialized based on their experience or education, advanced training, having a postgraduate degree or board certification, or practicing independently. Their experiences were influenced by challenges such as lack of professional classification and scope of practice for NPs, lack of leadership support, lack of community awareness, and unfair pay. Their experiences with patients were characterized with unfamiliarity followed by acceptance and trust. Some registered nurses were resistant toward NPs whereas others were supportive and collaborative. Physicians were mostly supportive and demanding of NPs in their teams. A standardized scope of practice, having prior clinical experience, receiving structured training, and fair pay perceived as facilitators. Participants viewed the future of NPs in Saudi Arabia as promising and progressing toward the right direction. Participants demonstrated a consistent professional identity, grounded in advanced education and specialized training. However, their experiences were shaped with challenges. Despite the identified challenges, the optimism surrounding the future of NPs reflects a broader recognition of its potential to enhance patient care in the context of Saudi Vision 2030. Establishing clear regulatory frameworks, ensuring fair compensation, and fostering interprofessional collaboration will be key to implementing the role of NPs in Saudi Arabia.

Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) is evolving across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the facilitators and barriers to APN programs and role implementation in the region. This study utilizes a descriptive exploratory qualitative approach to examine the perspectives of academic nurse leaders on APN in Saudi Arabia. This study used a descriptive qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 academic leaders from various academic institutions across Saudi Arabia over six months in 2022 and 2023 via Zoom. Audio recordings were transcribed using NVivo. Thematic analysis identified several key themes. The Description of APN theme highlighted specialized clinical skills, autonomous practice, and varied roles. The Needs theme emphasized improving patient outcomes, supporting healthcare transformation, and increasing cost-efficiency. The Current Status theme noted APN’s infancy and limited academic programs in Saudi Arabia. Differences in APN roles theme revealed specific functions and regional variations within the healthcare system. The Focus of APN Education theme emphasized the need for all specialties. Recommended admission requirements for the APN program included a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience. The Challenges theme included organizational and regulatory factors, such as organizational access to resources, and regulatory facilitators included supportive laws. The APN Future theme revealed an optimistic yet challenging outlook. Academic nurse leaders consider APN essential for improving patient outcomes, requiring supportive laws, collaboration, expert involvement, and resource allocation to establish robust APN programs, offering insights for similar global contexts. This study identified challenges and facilitators of implementing APN roles and highlighted actionable steps for various stakeholders to enhance the integration of APNs. The perspectives of academic nurse leaders provide actionable recommendations to highlight the requirements for APN roles, admission to the educational programs, challenges and facilitators to assist APNs in practicing at their full potential, ultimately improving patient health outcomes by shaping the future of nursing education, practice, and regulation adjustments. Not applicable.