![]() The aim of this review is to discuss the harmful effects that occupational stress, can potentially have on the psychological well-being of members of the veterinary nursing profession.Īlthough there has been little research carried out regarding occupational stress in the veterinary nursing profession, available evidence suggests that there are veterinary nurses working in the profession who regard their role as stressful. Workplace and occupational stress is an area that has drawn a great deal of attention for human health care workers over the years, but not until relatively recently has it been reviewed regarding the animal health care sector. An increasingly accepted definition of workplace stress, as described in a report commissioned by that Agency, is as “a psychological state which is part of and reflects a wider process of interaction between the person and their work environment”. According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, psychosocial risk may result in work-related stress, burnout and depression. Psychosocial risks are a particular form of workplace hazard. ConclusionĪll veterinary staff may be better prepared to deal with occupational stress related conditions if they gain better insight and ability to recognise the condition in self and others, and if provided with the toolkits to develop coping strategies and resilience. Adopting healthy self-care strategies can promote characteristics of "resilience" - personal qualities or traits such as optimism, self-confidence, level headedness, hardiness, and having the ability to be resourceful during times of adversity. ![]() Personal strategies may include lifestyle changes, adopting a healthier lifestyle, reduction of working hours, and ensuring adequate sleep. Taking personal responsibility for care of one’s own mental and physical health is just as important as taking care of the patient’s health. Workplace supports may include appropriate debriefing sessions among willing participants, particularly after an emotionally stressful encounter with a client. Working in a role that places emotional demands on staff, such as a need to show compassion and empathy towards clients who are emotionally distressed, puts staff at risk from experiencing compassion fatigue. This could directly impact on patient care in the veterinary practice. Signs of burnout can include increased levels of absenteeism at work, or the working standards of that staff member may decline below that of what would normally be expected of them. ![]() ![]() When suffering burnout, a person may experience emotional exhaustion, may become more cynical or they may have a reduced sense of personal accomplishment in regards to their own work. Main bodyīurnout is considered an ‘unintentional end point’ for certain individuals who are exposed to chronic stress within their working environment. However it is the individuals who are the most caring and empathetic towards others that will be most at risk of experiencing occupational stress when they are confronted with psychologically demanding workplace roles and working environments. Veterinary nursing is a caring profession and those who seek a career within this field do so because of a natural empathetic desire to care for animals. Burnout and compassion fatigue are frequently mentioned in relation to veterinary work.
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