Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry PDF

Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry Part 2 Compassion Fatigue & Grief NSCI5712 Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Practice 2024 Brainstorm Different jobs create different types of stress Think about the stress created by these jobs:...

Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry Part 2 Compassion Fatigue & Grief NSCI5712 Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Practice 2024 Brainstorm Different jobs create different types of stress Think about the stress created by these jobs: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY- NC-ND Veterinary Nurse Assistant Animal Rescue/Shelter Attendant Dog Walker Veterinary Nurse/Assistant Animal Rescue/Shelter Attendant Dog Walker Fearful and/or aggressive animals Fearful and/or aggressive animals Physical demands Behavioural challenges Ethical dilemmas Behavioural challenges Personal safety Public safety Public safety Owners with limited finances Limited resources Self-employed: financial worries Noisy animals Noisy animals Weather conditions Animal care responsibilities Animal care responsibilities Animal care responsibilities Overwhelming pace/Time constraints/ Long working hours Overwhelming pace/Time constraints/ Long Time constraints/time management/under the working hours public eye Dealing with difficult people (angry, upset, confrontational) Dealing with difficult people (angry, upset, Dealing with difficult dog owners confrontational) Stressed colleagues Stressed colleagues Responsibility for other people’s pets Compassion fatigue Compassion fatigue Lack of training Vet to VN ratio only 1:1 or 1:2 Highly reliant on volunteers Self-determined workload influenced by profitability (internat. Recommendation 1:5/6) pressures Under-utelised skills  This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND What are Compassion Fatigue & Burnout? What is Compassion Fatigue? Emotional and physical exhaustion triggered by traumatic events such as cruelty cases, major trauma events or constant exposure to euthanasia. Compassion Fatigue can be present in people who never deal with euthanasia, so it isn’t a defining factor. It often develops over time – and we don’t realise it until it causes a significant impact. "Compassion Fatigue is a state experienced by those helping people or animals in distress; it is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it can create a secondary traumatic stress for the helper." Dr. Charles Figley Professor, Paul Henry Kurzweg Distinguished Chair Director, Tulane Traumatology Institute Tulane University, New Orleans, LA  Why are we impacted? Love of Animals – want to help animals Ill prepared for confrontation with irresponsible owners, cruelty or duties involving euthanasia Normal feelings of stress, grief, guilt, remorse, … and not enough time to go through grief process The ‘Caring-Killing Paradox’ “Setting personal limits is hard in animal welfare, because it’s not ‘just a job’ – it’s like a religion.” Justina Calgiano, Director of Public Relations and Special Events at the Delaware County SPCA Compared to ‘Burnout’ Compassion Fatigue (CF) is often confused with burnout - some CF models include burnout as a component Burnout is chronic exhaustion from overdemand, being overworked, often due to inadequate staffing, inadequate resources, or high workload CF is mental and physical exhaustion from overexposure and overuse of compassion skills and relates to interaction with animals (or humans for those in 'human' professions) Burnout relates to workloads and organisational problems, NOT the nature of the work Burnout Mismatches  Compassion Fatigue Signs & Symptoms This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND Physical Emotional/Cognitive Behavioural certain people Anger at god Headaches Mood swings Substance abuse Reduced empathy Questions religious believes Diarrhoea Restlessness (nicotine, alcohol, Absenteeism Loss of faith Constipation Anger & irritability Illicit drugs,) Decreased joy/satisfaction & Skepticism Muscle tension Depression Increased interpersonal conflict ability to care Sleep disturbances Resentment Pessimism Productivity loss Tiredness & fatigue Cardiac Loss of objectivity Moodiness Feelings of symptoms Memory Issues Hypervigilance incompetence Poor concentration Increased startle response Impaired judgment Reduced Lack of self-care Spiritual empathy Hyperarousal Work-Related Question the meaning of life Avoidance/dread of working with Loss of purpose Lack of self-satisfaction  Be aware of the very real potential for CF Mindfulness – helps you to be aware of the signs Have an early warning system – your “stab-o-meter” Self care – even when you don’t want to Activities that replenish you – outside of the job Prevention is Have a transition ritual – some people bike home, others change clothes, reflective journaling better than Have trusted people to talk to & listen to – in & out of industry Take breaks during the day – no matter how busy Cure Set limits for what you can do and give Use humour (appropriately) Connecting with what you love - interact with animals, children and nature Have rituals that remind you who you are & why you do what you do  Who can help? There are plenty of resources out there for those suffering from compassion fatigue but too few people either know about them or use them. Nearly all animal care workers agree that your first line of defence against compassion fatigue is to accept the reality that you cannot save everyone. Take things one day at a time and do not underestimate the importance of saving one life. That one act makes a world of difference to that animal and to the humans who will love them. (https://barkpost.com/good/compassion-fatigue-animal-workers/) Check these out: Facebook group – Compassion awareness for animal professionals Various meditation and mindfulness apps e.g., Insight Timer, Calm, Mentemia Kōura Journal - https://kouralife.com/ The resilience project - https://theresilienceproject.org.nz Free online training for your workplace | Mental Health Foundation Grief & Loss What does Grief & Loss mean to You? Why is it important to grief? What emotions might you go through? Two types of losses - Necessary developmental loss - Circumstantial loss 5 Things About Grief No One Really Tells You – YouTube (6:41 min.) Factors affecting Grief What situations do you think could make an animal death so difficult? The ‘specialness’ of an animal (like a child) Human factors (age of the owner, vulnerability) Circumstances of the death (sudden death, under a GA, medical conditions, violent deaths, difficult euthanasia's) Animal has disappeared Recognising Grief You may see Emotional reactions: Grief can cause a range of emotional reactions, including sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, and despair. Physical symptoms: Grief can also manifest in physical symptoms, such as fatigue, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances. Behavioural changes: Grief can cause people to withdraw from social activities, become less productive at work, or engage in risky behaviours. Managing Grief Allow time for grieving: It's important to allow yourself or others time to grieve and process their emotions. Express emotions: Encourage yourself or others to express their emotions in a safe and healthy way, such as talking to a trusted friend, therapist, or writing in a journal. Practice self-care: Grief can be physically and emotionally exhausting, so encourage yourself or others to take care of themselves by getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring them comfort or pleasure. Seek support: Encourage yourself or others to seek support from family, friends, or a mental health professional who can provide additional support and guidance during the grieving process. Be patient: Grieving is a process that can take time, so be patient and compassionate with yourself or others as they navigate through the stages of grief.