Occupational Stress in Veterinary Nurses: Roles of the Work Environment and Own Companion Animal

Abstract

Veterinary nursing has been identified as an occupation at risk for occupational stress and burnout, but a better understanding of job stressors and influencing factors is needed. The aim of this study was to examine occupational stress in a veterinary nursing population based on established work stress theories. This study sought to determine which environmental aspects of the work situation may be detrimental to well-being and which factors may operate to reduce job stress. A sample of South Australian veterinary nurses (n =127) completed a postal questionnaire about their work environment (job demands and control, work social supports) and their psychological distress, work burnout, and job satisfaction, with a response rate of 76.5%. The potential influence of attachment to participants' own companion animals was investigated using the Owner Pet Relationship Scale. Hierarchical regressions then explored the contribution to psychological outcomes, of social support at work and attachment to own companion animal, after controlling for work load, exposure to euthanasia, contact with clients, work demands, and work control. While social support at work ameliorated occupational stress, attachment to companion animal was linked to decreased job satisfaction. Supportive interpersonal relations in the workplace have a key role in veterinary nurses' job satisfaction. Management skill training may have a role in the development of more satisfying workplaces for the veterinary nursing sector, which may have implications for the undergraduate and post-registration training of veterinary practice managers.

Occupational Stress & Compassion Fatigue: The effects on workers in animal-related occupations

“…The method of participant recruitment and the way in which data were analysed and reported also varied. Three studies used quantitative methodology (Reeve, Rogelberg et al 2005, Rogelberg, Reeve et al 2007, Black, Winefield et al 2011, five were qualitative studies (Arluke 1991, Reeve, Spitzmuller et al 2004, Rogelberg, DiGiacomo et al 2007, Baran, Allen et al 2009, Davies and Lewis 2010, and four used a mixed-method approach (Rohlf and Bennett 2005, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012, Anderson et al 2013. Two studies were conducted in Australia (Rohlf andBennett 2005, Black, Winefield et al 2011), and one study in the United Kingdom (Davies and Lewis 2010), with the remaining studies conducted in the United States.…”

“…The first empirical study investigating occupational stress in veterinary nurses in Australia was published in 2011 (Black, Winefield et al 2011). This study sought to determine which environmental aspects of the work situation may be detrimental to wellbeing and which factors may operate to reduce job stress.…”

“…Euthanasia within these occupational contexts may be a daily occurrence and discussions typically focus on topics such as the number of animals killed, the rationale for killing, or the methods used (Arluke 1991 Compassion fatigue in animal-related professions is most often considered to be a direct result of the impact of euthanasia. However, evidence to date suggests that negative feelings are also induced by other common occupational stressors such as client financial constraints, employee workload, long-term care of patients with chronic diseases and, end of life care (Rollin 1987, Stamm 1999, Figley and Roop 2006, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012. Compassion fatigue and the associated negative feelings can also be compounded by feelings of failing a patient, the client, or both (Arluke 1991, White and Shawhan 1996, Stamm 1999, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012.…”

“…However, evidence to date suggests that negative feelings are also induced by other common occupational stressors such as client financial constraints, employee workload, long-term care of patients with chronic diseases and, end of life care (Rollin 1987, Stamm 1999, Figley and Roop 2006, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012. Compassion fatigue and the associated negative feelings can also be compounded by feelings of failing a patient, the client, or both (Arluke 1991, White and Shawhan 1996, Stamm 1999, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012. There is increasing dialogue on occupational stigma and the negative perception of various animal-related work tasks including broadly, the decision to euthanize, the use of animals in research and the global push towards the ideals of no-kill animal shelters (Rohlf and Bennett 2005, Davies and Lewis 2010, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012, Anderson et al 2013).…”

“…There is increasing dialogue on occupational stigma and the negative perception of various animal-related work tasks including broadly, the decision to euthanize, the use of animals in research and the global push towards the ideals of no-kill animal shelters (Rohlf and Bennett 2005, Davies and Lewis 2010, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012, Anderson et al 2013). This stigma may further compound the effects of occupational stress and compassion fatigue and lead to emotional dissonance and the potential for emotional contagion not only between those directly involved in these tasks but also to ancillary and support staff such as receptionists and other office workers (Rohlf and Bennett 2005, Davies and Lewis 2010, Black, Winefield et al 2011, Foster and Maples 2011, Baran, Rogelberg et al 2012, Anderson et al 2013 (Rohlf and Bennett 2005). In the authors' experience, most people who work in these areas do so because they love animals and feel an affinity with them.…”