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Ignoring Compassion Fatigue Can Be Bad For Business

Author: AVMA
Posted: Friday 10th June, 2011. 13:34:36

Failure to address compassion fatigue in an employee sets the stage for organizational compassion fatigue - a toxic work environment that hinders efficiency and limits a veterinary practice's growth potential.

No member of the veterinary team is safe from a particular kind of emotional trauma common among professions dominated by compassionate, caring people wanting to ease the suffering of others, according to Katherine Dobbs.

Compassion fatigue, known also as secondary traumatic stress disorder, is as real as any physical injury, said Dobbs, a veterinary management and human resources consultant. Left untreated, compassion fatigue jeopardizes not just the employee but also a veterinary practice's bottom line.

Dobbs, who began her career in veterinary medicine as a registered veterinary technician nearly 20 years ago, spoke during the AAHA meeting in Toronto March 25 about ways of identifying and dealing with compassion fatigue.

Compassion fatigue is defined as emotional exhaustion experienced by caregivers frequently exposed to highly stressful situations. Persons experiencing compassion fatigue may isolate themselves, become increasingly apathetic, complain excessively or blame others, lose interest in their appearance and hygiene, or abuse alcohol and drugs.

Veterinary professionals are at risk because they deal regularly with traumatized patients and clients. "From the front desk to the back office," no member of the practice staff is immune to the emotional impact such events bring, Dobbs observed, adding that masking feelings is part of the job at the veterinary practice.

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