In addition, disabling levels of fatigue frequently are reported by patients receiving cancer treatment. By thoroughly assessing the factors causing fatigue and by increasing their knowledge of effective interventions, nurses can develop a fatigue management plan that minimizes the negative consequences. Definition of fatigue All human beings experience fatigue at various times in their lives. For healthy people, a feeling of fatigue is temporary and usually related to excessive physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, an increase in work or social responsibilities, or lack of sleep. Acute fatigue is thought to serve a protective function, alerting a person to the need for rest.
Acute fatigue is, by definition, time limited.
But for some people, fatigue is a daily experience that affects all parts of their lives. Rest may lessen the severity of chronic fatigue, but often it does not relieve it. Patients with chronic illnesses and those undergoing cancer treatment may need to alter their lifestyles to manage fatigue. According to North American Nursing Diagnosis Association guidelines, the major defining characteristic of chronic fatigue is the patient's self-report of a sustained and significant lack of energy. 5 Research on fatigue is focusing on fatigue-related symptoms in otherwise healthy people following viral infections and on fatigue as a side effect of cancer treatment.