Drawing on her 16 years of clinical veterinary nursing experience, Angela is investigating the organisational factors that contribute to burnout and identifying practical ways to support the wellbeing of veterinary nursing teams.
“Burnout is a big problem in the veterinary industry, leading to physical and mental health issues as well as high levels of staff turnover,” she says. “It’s estimated to cost the industry between $1.5 and $3 billion per year and is contributing to a global workforce shortage, ultimately affecting access to veterinary care.”
While burnout is often assumed to affect only veterinarians, Angela says veterinary nurses are also at high risk.
“In our recent study, two-thirds of veterinary nurses reported experiencing signs of burnout,” she says. “This is significant because they make up around 42 per cent of the veterinary workforce in Australia.”
“Their role is essential, encompassing everything from monitoring anaesthesia and assisting in theatre to performing radiology and lab tests, and offering emotional support to pet owners,” she adds.
The research identified ten workplace risk factors contributing to burnout and three protective factors that can help prevent it.
“Risk factors include high workloads, poor leadership, negative team culture, lack of skill utilisation, inadequate pay, limited career progression and negative client interactions,” she says.
“But we also found protective factors, such as manageable workloads, strong teamwork, respectful communication, and feeling recognised and valued.”
The research team have now developed a set of practical strategies for veterinary clinics.
“These solutions are designed to support veterinary nurse leaders and improve staff morale and retention,” she says. “Ultimately, this translates to better outcomes for patients and clients.”
The team is now developing a short survey tool that clinics can use to assess burnout risk factors in their workplace, which will help identify barriers to change and support clinics in choosing tailored strategies from the research recommendations.
