Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers face an immense amount of stressors on the job, which negatively impacts their mental health. A study by the Centers for Disease Control showed that in 2022, 46% of health workers reported feeling burned out compared to 32% in 2018. One solution to help mitigate this is by having the presence of dogs in the hospital.
Susan Ryan, an Emergency Room physician at HCA HealthONE Rose Medical Center in Denver, is a strong advocate for animal interaction with staff. Years of working as an ER physician left Dr. Ryan with symptoms of PTSD.
To help cope with the symptoms, Dr. Ryan began doing therapy with horses. Having a horse in her backyard, however, was not a feasible option, so she got a Labrador. Ryan received training from Canine Companions and became the first physician trained by this group to have a facility dog in the ER.
Ryan was approved by the Rose Medical Center to have her dog work during her ER shifts, to much delight from her colleagues. Having the dog working on the shift is said to be an instant mood booster.
Regarding the interactions, Ryan states:
“Anything that brings you back to the present time helps ground you again. A dog can be that calming influence," she said. "You can get down on the ground, pet them, and you just get calm."
Dogs who serve in this capacity are kept away from allergic patients and are washed regularly to prevent germs. People must wash their hands before and after petting them. Staff also states that there is virtually no bite risk from the Labradors who are the preferred breed for this type of work.
Do you think animal interactions can reduce work-related stress? Leave a comment!
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