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Posted: 7th April 2016

Faulkner suggests imposing sabbaticals to avoid burnout
Brian Faulkner
Faulkner cited a variety of triggers and common causes of burnout and compassion fatigue.
High achievers at risk of compassion fatigue and burnout

In a lecture entitled ‘Compassion fatigue versus burnout: what’s the difference’, Brian Faulkner outlined strategies for recognising and preventing both conditions at this year's BSAVA Congress.
 
One of Faulker’s suggestions was to facilitate, where possible, prolonged breaks of three or more weeks from practice to allow for adrenal gland recovery, describing his own experiences of needing to recover from prolonged stress and exhaustion.
 
Faulkner cited a variety of triggers and common causes of burnout and compassion fatigue and addressed the need to implement changes to reduce pressures on veterinary professionals.
 
In the lecture, Brian Faulkner described ten minute appointment slots as ‘obsolete’, and suggested that simply increasing slot times would not only decrease stress but be financially beneficial to the practice and improve client relations.
 
When outlining the differences between the two conditions, Faulkner explained that the shared catalyst for both is exhaustion. In an attempt to break down and explain causes, symptoms and solutions to both conditions, he outlined the need to recognise physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms as a physiological response.   
 
Faulkner referred to his own experiences of coming close to experiencing burnout to explain his theory about taking time out. “I also would prescribe periods of rest as crucial in recovery.”
 
He continued: “I had to move away from this to allow my adrenal glands to not be cushingoid any more”.
 
In a series of diagrams, equations and theories, Brian attributed physiological responses and manifestations to a range of common and unavoidable circumstances encountered regularly and repeatedly in practice.
 
He dispelled the common tendency for people to assume they can ‘psyche’ themselves out of physiological conditions, and emphasised the need to take urgent practical steps to reduce stressors.



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