Perspectives on an exhausted medical radiation practitioner workforce: emotional labour and the impact of compassion fatigue

As the COVID19 pandemic in Australia reaches its peak, healthcare workers are at capacity both physically and emotionally. High workloads and stress impact the mental wellbeing of healthcare workers as they suppress of feelings and emotions and experience compassion fatigue. From a healthcare workforce perspective, the long-term cost of the pandemic has yet to be realised. Healthcare workers need to be supported to prevent unintended health consequences. Robust management interventions will be required to support the healthcare workforce to manage and hopefully mitigate compassion fatigue transitioning out of the pandemic.