Welcome home. Your shift has been rough and it is your time to relax. Pour yourself a whiskey and a bubble bath or turn on that steamy shower and turn up the tunes. (I know. Realistically, you’re probably getting home and having to feed your kids, care for your dog, fix the fence, herd the goats...but
Relief vets are a unique group. Our entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, emotional investments, and dedicated natures can contribute to both our successes and our struggles with work-life balance. Being a relief veterinarian gives me the strength to navigate burnout and compassion fatigue. It helps me rediscover the joy of veterinary medicine. So, from one pioneer
A day in our profession requires a lot of energy:Â Energy to deal with a disgruntled client Energy to handle the emotions of losing a patient Energy to think on your feet when a patient presents differently than expected Energy to multi-task all day long between greeting, treating, documenting, and communicating! Is it even possible
We've discovered the perfect treat for these steamy summer days and we just can't keep it to ourselves! Craig's Vegan Ice Cream is ridiculously yummy, but that's not the only reason you'll feel good eating it. Read on and you'll be over the moon about this tantalizing discovery. TASTE IT. YOU STILL WON'T BELIEVE IT'S
A 2015 study found that 1 in 11 veterinarians have psychological stress, while a 2019 study found that mortality ratios for suicide in veterinarians are significantly higher than the general population (1,2). Potential reasons for these variances are cited and include debt, compassion fatigue, and burnout.  As a result, certain necessary buzzwords and phrases have developed,
The challenges that Covid has brought were not something anyone saw coming. There was a hope that a turning of the calendar may bring relief, and instead the gauntlet of pet care needs has persisted. Our workload and exhaustion are palpable, and we are not a group of people well-known for being the best at
Some may argue that if you love what you do, it does not matter how much you work. I tend to disagree with that. In veterinary medicine, it is easy to get caught up in your career, to wake up one day and realize that is has engulfed you, that it defines you. Who are
As you already know, working in a veterinary clinic possesses numerous daily unknowns. You never know when you walk in for your shift if you are going to be bombarded with a triage and 10 patients in the ICU or a calm environment with just a few appointments for the morning. First, what exactly is
As I do every November, I’ve started thinking a lot about gratitude. I realize this should be top of mind every day. And it is, to some degree. But I’m susceptible to seasonal messaging so I obsess about candy in October, ramp up my gratitude in November, focus on generosity in December, and energize on
If the words “burnt out” are on your mind either because you feel that way or you see it in your teams, you’re not going to want to miss this dynamic discussion. We learn the stats about burnout in the veterinary profession, the symptoms, and share both personal and organizational strategies for combatting this insidious
