# Development and Evaluation of the Veterinary Nurse Burnout Prevention Survey (VNBPS)

## TL;DR

A new survey tool helps veterinary clinics identify burnout risks and implement tailored prevention strategies to improve nurse wellbeing.

## Contribution

The VNBPS survey is a novel tool designed to assess burnout risk factors and workplace climate in veterinary nurses, enabling clinic-specific prevention strategies.

## Key findings

- The VNBPS survey was perceived as easy to complete and accurate by most participants.
- Survey results facilitated conversations about burnout within veterinary teams.
- The tool's internal reliability was good, and its recommendations were seen as practical.

## Abstract

Burnout is the result of chronic work stress. Veterinary nurses (VNs) are at high risk of burnout, which can compromise individual wellbeing and organizational outcomes. Burnout prevention is, therefore, vital. Research in veterinary settings has identified multiple burnout risk factors and prevention strategies, but these are likely to vary among clinics. Workplace climate may also influence implementation of burnout prevention strategies. In this study, a 35-item survey, the Veterinary Nurse Burnout Prevention Survey (VNBPS), was designed to detect the presence of VN burnout risk factors and gauge workplace climate to inform tailored burnout prevention recommendations. The tool was piloted by 67 participants within six veterinary clinics. After delivery and analysis of the survey, a summary of results and tailored recommendations was provided. A follow up questionnaire then evaluated participants’ perceived ease of participation, accuracy of findings, and practicality of recommendations. Most participants perceived the survey as easy to complete. Participants also reported that the survey summary and burnout prevention recommendations were accurate, useful, and realistic. Participants commented that completing the survey helped facilitate additional conversations about burnout within the team. Overall, this tool can help veterinary clinics prevent burnout and support the wellbeing and long-term success of VN teams.

Burnout results from chronic workplace stress and is most effectively addressed through workplace interventions. Successful implementation of interventions may, however, be constrained by factors within the work environment. This study aimed to evaluate a new tool, the Veterinary Nurse Burnout Prevention Survey (VNBPS). The 35-item, cross-sectional mixed methods survey aimed to identify the presence of burnout risk factors for veterinary nurses (VNs), and support selection of tailored interventions within the clinic. The VNBPS was conducted within VN teams (N = 67) across six Australian veterinary clinics between August and September 2025. After delivery and analysis of the survey, a summary of results and tailored recommendations was provided to each clinic. A subsequent evaluation questionnaire measured perceived ease of participation, accuracy of findings, and practicality of recommendations. The majority of the 17 respondents who completed the evaluation questionnaire (71%, n = 10) found the survey very easy to complete, and the findings to be accurate (79%, n = 11), or very accurate (21%, n = 3). Recommended interventions were perceived to be practical (50%, n = 7) or very practical (29%, n = 4). Internal reliability of the VNBPS was good. Participants reported that the survey held additional value in initiating conversations about burnout. This confirms the VNBPS as a useful tool to assist veterinary workplaces in the prevention of VN burnout and provide practical support for leaders to improve the wellbeing and professional sustainability of VN teams.