References
A questionnaire based study to assess compassion fatigue in UK practising veterinary nurses
Abstract
Background:
Veterinary staff have been identified as a profession at high risk of suffering from the effects of compassion fatigue (CF), although no specific studies have been carried out to date to assess the risk to UK registered veterinary nurses (RVNs), of this important area of mental health.
Aims and objectives:
To establish whether CF was a risk factor to RVNs, with the aim of improving mental wellbeing across the veterinary profession as a whole.
Methods:
An internet-based survey was produced, open to all RVNs who had worked in practice within the last 30 days, using a version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale V (ProQOL). The survey was promoted through various means including social media, an email campaign of veterinary practices and an internet link promoted through veterinary nurse (VN) training colleges.
Results:
A total of 992 eligible responses were received; 92.8% of respondents were identified as being at moderate/high risk of burnout, with 68.1% of respondents being at moderate/high risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS). Levels of burnout and STS were statistically lower in those experiencing high levels of compassion satisfaction (CS).
Conclusion:
The statistical analysis performed showed that RVNs are at risk of suffering from CF. The study revealed that working as an RVN posed a risk to mental health in the form of CF. The preventative effect of CS was statistically significant therefore employers should strive to ensure their workers achieve satisfaction in their work to help maintain a mentally healthy workforce.
Compassion can be defined as an awareness of others' suffering, and the wish to take action to relieve it (Ayl, 2013). Anyone working in the field of caring, whether with animals or people, will be expected to display compassion to those they are providing care for, but the more an individual is compassionate and empathetic to those they are treating, the more vulnerable they are to the effects of compassion fatigue (CF) (Figley, 1995a). The term CF is a relatively modern one that many people are only just becoming familiar with, although the concept of workers being affected by their patients' suffering was first described by the psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung in 1907. CF was first coined in 1992 when Joinson used it to describe the loss of ability to nurture observed in human nurses working in emergency department settings. CF is now widely recognised in the field of human nursing and has been indicated as a cause of poor job satisfaction, poor job retention and medical errors (Halbesleben et al, 2008).
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting The Veterinary Nurse and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.