Description should include

definitions of job pressure and stress
aspects of work in various animal-care professions that are physically and emotionally demanding/stressful (e.g., heavy lifting, working outdoors in inclement weather, facing the risk of being bitten/scratched/kicked/stepped on, assisting in euthanasia, dealing with demanding clients, handling animals with poor prognoses, burnout)
potential physical and mental effects of pressure and stress for animal care professionals
how personality and/or lifestyle may affect susceptibility to stress
positive methods for managing difficult situations and day-to-day stress (e.g., exercise, adequate sleep, healthy diet, time with friends/family, worship, hobbies/sports, or personal growth experiences)
consequences of negative coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, and determining when professional help is required
the differences between working in a day practice vs. working in an emergency clinic.

Process/Skill Questions:

Why is it important to evaluate the physical, mental, and emotional demands of working in an animal healthcare field before studying veterinary science?
How can the physical and mental skills necessary for careers in animal health care be obtained and maintained?
Why might the effectiveness of different personal coping mechanisms vary from person to person?
What is compassion fatigue?
What are some common and specific signs of compassion fatigue?
How can compassion fatigue be prevented?
How does compassion fatigue lead to a high suicide rate among veterinary professionals?
How can one recognize the signs of compassion fatigue in others?
What can be done to reduce the dangers of compassion fatigue and to prevent suicide?
Why is the suicide rate in the veterinary profession high compared to other medical professions?
Should colleges and universities help their students to recognize and learn to prevent and/or cope with high levels of stress/compassion fatigue/suicidal thoughts?

Teacher Resource: