Burnout in veterinary nursing

A new scoping review published in The Veterinary Journal has brought fresh urgency to the conversation around burnout in veterinary practice (Takefuji, 2025). It confirms what I am sure many working in veterinary clinics already feel: that stress, emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue are not just everyday but increasingly pervasive. While the paper primarily focused on veterinarians, the implications are equally relevant to veterinary nurses, whose mental health and retention are equally critical to patient care.

The study compiled global literature on burnout prevalence and mitigation strategies in the veterinary profession. It identified known contributors: long hours, emotionally intense caseloads, financial stress and strained client relationships, and found that early-career and female veterinary professionals are particularly at risk. This detail is worth noting, as the UK veterinary nursing workforce has a significant number of female workers and also includes many young professionals. The challenges facing veterinary surgeons are often mirrored, and sometimes amplified, among nursing teams, who may have less clinical authority but share equally in the responsibility for patient welfare and client care.