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Diffusing Difficult Situations with Veterinary Clients
In the fast-paced and stressful world of veterinary medicine, conflicts are inevitable. Very often these disagreements involve upset or angry clients who make statements like “you’re only in it for the money” or “you should have been able to figure out my pet’s problem by now”. When our self-image is challenged, particularly with accusations of […]
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Navigating the Top Stressors in Veterinary Practice
In the heartwarming yet challenging realm of veterinary practice, we, the dedicated professionals, often find ourselves juggling an array of stressors that shape our daily lives. Acknowledging these challenges is not just a necessity for our mental wellbeing; it’s a vital step toward nurturing a compassionate and supportive community. Let’s dive into the most common […]
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Defining Futile Care and Its Impact on Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine
As an emergency and critical care specialist, I can wholeheartedly attest to providing futile care to patients whose owners who would not consent to euthanasia or discontinuation of intensive care. I remember one dog in particular who had a collapsing trachea that was stented and then had progression of his disease resulting in laryngeal and […]
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How conflict in veterinary practice can be a good thing
Conflict is a word that most of us shudder to say and many of us prefer to avoid at all costs. In a survey published by DVM360 in 2013, 51% of veterinary team members said that “most of us avoid conflict when we can but engage in difficult conversations when necessary.” So, for something that […]
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How ‘dropping the ball’ can be a good thing for veterinarians
I attended the Art of Leadership for Women conference last week and had the pleasure of listening to Tiffany Dufu speak. Tiffany is the founder of a peer coaching company for women and an advocate for the advancement of female professionals. She is also the author of Drop the Ball, a manifesto and memoir about […]
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A question from pet owners that this veterinarian dreads answering…
As a specialist in emergency and critical care for small animals, my job is to manage the most intensely ill dogs and cats that are presented to the veterinary hospital. Examples include a dog that is hit by a car, a cat in congestive heart failure, a cat having an asthma attack, or a dog […]
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What does a recent study reveal about veterinarian mental health?
An Executive Report published this month in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association shared the results of the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study – appropriate timing given that May is Mental Health Awareness month. The authors of the study wanted to survey a large group of veterinarians by way of random sampling […]
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Ten Tips for Limiting Screen Time and Improving Veterinary Well-Being
Technology is a necessary evil with the work that we do as veterinary care providers from keeping medical records to maintaining our practice’s online presence and communicating with clients and team members. If it weren’t for technology, we would not be able to remain connected to lifelong friends, distant family members, and colleagues worldwide. However, […]
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How veterinary team members can find a mental health provider
One of the most common questions I get asked by my veterinary colleagues and friends is “can you tell me how to find a good therapist?”. I am always so glad when someone asks me this as I firmly believe that every human on this planet can benefit from therapy. And with rates of psychological […]
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If I’m such a successful veterinarian…then why do I feel like a fraud?
I’ve heard it from many veterinarians whom I have spoken to over the years: “I know I’m pretty good at what I do, but I can’t help thinking I’m fooling everyone.” I know this feeling all too well and it has a name: imposter syndrome. This is the feeling of “I will be found out” […]
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Veterinarians thriving!…How do they do it?
So much of the recent news related to veterinary health and well-being has focused on the mental health struggles, psychological stressors, and suicides. Rather than reiterating what we already know, which is that most veterinary care providers are stressed and not coping well with the demands of practice, I’d like to focus on some of […]
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How to prevent burnout among vet techs and nurses who do ‘shift work’
I stopped doing shift work involving swing and overnight shifts a few years ago, but I know plenty of veterinary technicians and nurses (and veterinarians) who continue to do so. Regrettably, there is no way around this when it comes to veterinary emergency and critical care, since emergencies and intensive care extend outside of the […]
