Compassion fatigue, a form of secondary traumatic stress, affects animal care personnel due to exposure to distressing situations. It poses risks to staff well-being and research quality. A Culture of Care is built on four pillars: strong science, animal welfare, human well-being, and communication. Human well-being, as one pillar, focuses on empathetic support to address challenges like compassion fatigue. Strategies include self-care, mindfulness, and professional development, alongside institutional measures like debriefing sessions, leadership training, and flexible scheduling. Tools such as ProQOL assessments and resiliency frameworks, supported by the University of Washington’s D2C and the 3Rs Collaborative, may help mitigate its impact.
Release Date: March 20, 2025
Language Availability: English
Suggested Audiences: Animal Care and Facility Staff, Postdocs, Research Personnel, Researchers, Students
Organizational Subscription Price: Included as part of an annual subscription to our All Access Webinar Package
Independent Learner Price: $49 per person
