Being a veterinarian or a vet tech isn’t easy. You may deal with a traumatized patient or an emotional client. Sometimes, you are faced with having to provide care and empathy for a client whose pet has reached the final stages of an illness or has experienced a traumatic injury that results in having to put that pet to sleep. These interactions are emotional and difficult for both the client and the practice employee involved. Daily, long term exposure to emotional distresses and traumatic events could lead to Compassion Fatigue in the employees in your vet practice.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion Fatigue is an emotional stress disorder, often experienced by individuals who assist and help people or animals who have experienced trauma or distress. The Tulane Traumatology Institute defines it as an “extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those who are being helped.”

Compassion Fatigue can affect everyone, but it often occurs in:

• Veterinarians
• Vet Techs
• Animal Shelter Employees
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Employees in Elderly Care Facilities
• Social Workers
• Teachers
• Mental Health Care Providers
• Caregivers to individuals or animals with special needs or chronic ailments

Recognizing the Symptoms

Compassion Fatigue can often appear as stress as a result of day-to-day caregiving. It is important to recognize some of the symptoms:

• Denial
• Blaming
• Isolation
• Repressed feelings or emotions
• Irrational outbursts/ unexpected aggression
• Poor hygiene
• Trouble sleeping
• Nightmares
• Chronic illness such as stomach aches and headaches
• Apathy
• Trouble finding pleasure in once-pleasurable hobbies or activities.
• Difficulty concentrating
• Exhaustion
• Preoccupation

Individuals with severe Compassion Fatigue might experience:

• Substance abuse
• Compulsive behavior (overspending, gambling, debts, overeating, etc.)
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Thoughts of Suicide

When Compassion Fatigue becomes an issue with a practice employee, it can impact the entire office and can actually make the stressful situation worse for the workplace.

Some ways Compassion Fatigue can impact a practice include:

• Absenteeism
• Worker’s Compensation claims or costs
• Turnover
• Employee disagreements or conflict
• Workplace harmony
• Employee satisfaction
• Lack of teamwork

Preventing Compassion Fatigue

Individuals who provide care to people or animals often give little thought to themselves and focus on helping others. If you think you or a practice employee is already experiencing Compassion Fatigue, being aware of the daily emotional impact is a great first step to begin to provide assistance before serious problems develop for you, your employee, and your practice.

Self-care is one of the most important tools to preventing Compassion Fatigue in yourself and your staff.

Some tips for you and your staff on practicing self-care include:

• Be aware of the emotional impact of your profession
• Be kind to yourself
• Educate yourself and your staff
• Talk about your feelings
• Listen to your fellow co-workers and their feelings
• Establish personal boundaries and be clear about your needs
• Change your environment when you are feeling overwhelmed

Some simple self-care tips include:

• Encourage exercise and healthy activity
• Find social activities and hobbies that allow you to de-stress
• Keep a journal or a blog about your experiences and feelings
• Rest when you feel you need to
• Be okay with saying ‘no’ to things you know will create stress
• Create a support system of individuals who will listen
• Be more proactive rather than reactive to your emotions

Learning to recognize the causes and symptoms of Compassion Fatigue can help your staff with their daily work and also help your practice and its employees work together to create an environment that provides excellent care to your clients and their pets. Encourage your staff to seek help if they feel they need it and remember that in caring for others, you must also care for yourself.

Learn more about practice and staff management by contacting your Covetrus representative at 855.724.3461.

Source: http://www.compassionfatigue.org/index.html

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