Burnout among veterinary nurses can affect the quality of pet care, according to La Trobe University researchers. But a new international study published in Animals journal has identified how to fix the issue.
Burnout is widely known to affect veterinarians, yet few studies have looked at burnout among vet nurses, who make up 42 per cent of the industry workforce in Australia.
Vet nurses play a critical role in pet healthcare, from monitoring anaesthesia, assisting in surgery and performing radiology to providing emotional support to pet parents.
Lead researcher and PhD candidate, Angela Chapman said as pet ownership rises and demand for services increases, nurse burnout is likely to grow unless clinics put strategies in place to manage it.
"Our previous research revealed that two in three vet nurses have experienced signs of burnout and nearly half reported their workplace had no systems in place to support their wellbeing," Angela said.
"Burnout negatively affects vet nurses' mental and physical health, which increases dissatisfaction and the likelihood of vet nurses leaving the industry. This puts pressure on busy clinics and may affect the gold standard of care provided to pets."
In this new study, the researchers asked 40 veterinary leaders and wellbeing experts from Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and Canada to develop and evaluate strategies for tackling 10 key burnout risk factors to improve staff wellbeing and retention rates.
High workloads, lack of support and under-utilisation of vet nurses' skills and training were some of the significant chronic workplace stressors identified.
"Overall, we found improving staff retention was considered a more effective strategy for reducing workload and burnout than hiring more staff," Angela said.
Regular communication between staff and leaders, providing career pathways with embedded training and support, and clear workplace policies and procedures could also help reduce staff turnover and improve wellbeing, the study showed.
Angela said industry-wide barriers included a lack of consistent professional regulation, which led clinics to under-utilise vet nurses' skills in activities they were well-qualified to perform.
"Greater leadership awareness of industry regulations, willingness to delegate tasks and trust in nurses' capabilities could improve efficiency, morale and retention rates across clinics."
Study co-author Dr Vanessa Rohlf added that inadequate support and training for vet industry leaders was another issue which hampered change efforts.
In the US veterinary industry alone, burnout costs an estimated US$1 to 2 billion (AUD $1.5 to 3 billion) annually.
Dr Rohlf said burnout was a global issue for the veterinary industry but one that could be tackled with local action.
"This is a wake-up call for the veterinary industry. We now have practical tools and strategies that vet clinics can use to address burnout before it becomes a chronic workplace issue. What we need now is the willingness to act – both at an industry-wide and vet clinic level."
Angela said adoption of tailored solutions for vet clinics would lead to increased staff retention and wellbeing.
"Which will ultimately translate to higher quality patient care and happier pet parents."
Angela Chapman and Dr Vanessa Rohlf are
