IACUC Ongoing Training
The Nonymouse laboratory has been bustling with IACUC approved studies. Although the lab frequently has a rotation of students, the PI is lucky to have a long-standing laboratory manager to train the students. The PI noticed that lately, the laboratory manager has changed from a patient even tempered leader to having more of a short fuse and is irritable with the students. What could explain this change?
A. The laboratory manager may be suffering from compassion fatigue and burnout, the PI should discuss their concerns with the laboratory manager.
B. Nothing.
To view quiz question answers and learner feedback, please click the “Ongoing Training Answers and Learner Feedback” tab toward the top of the page.
The Nonymouse laboratory has been bustling with IACUC approved studies. Although the lab frequently has a rotation of students, the PI is lucky to have a long-standing laboratory manager to train the students. The PI noticed that lately, the laboratory manager has changed from a patient even tempered leader to having more of a short fuse and is irritable with the students. What could explain this change?
A. The laboratory manager may be suffering from compassion fatigue and burnout, the PI should discuss their concerns with the laboratory manager.
B. Nothing.
Lerner Feedback: The correct answer is A. Compassion fatigue is likely the culprit for a person working long term with animals, especially when the result of the experiment is euthanasia, even more so if the person conducting the final procedure has formed a bond with the animals. Some steps the PI can take as listed in the AALAS Publication, The Cost of Caring:
- Recognize stresses to personnel.
- Have an open-door policy to discuss these types of issues without embarrassment or shame.
- Offer educational opportunities relative to humane animal care and use and ethics.
- Encourage group support meetings among laboratory personnel.
- Rotate personnel to distribute job duties.
- And more!
At Northwestern and our affiliates, there are employee assistance programs that staff and students can use:
Answer B is incorrect as in addition to potential animal welfare concerns that can arise from compassion fatigue, being irritable and hostile to the next generation of scientists is not appropriate. Hopefully the laboratory manager uses the employee assistance resources provided, takes some time for self-care, and works with their PI to prevent future compassion fatigue and burnout.