Navigating Work-Life Balance in Veterinary Medicine | Episode 43 | Reviving Vet Med

The ways in which veterinary teams communicate can have a tremendous impact on their wellbeing. Research demonstrates that team members that work within an environment with effective communication have lower burnout scores and higher levels of job satisfaction compared to those who work in an environment with ineffective communication. Likewise, candid and open communication among team members is one of the four main components of a healthy work environment identified in the Merck Animal Health Wellbeing Study III, which is also linked with lower burnout and psychological distress among team members. 

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of healthy team communication and how to achieve that with curiosity and compassion. We cover different strategies for compassionate communication, as adapted from the non-violent communication model. From empathy to genuine apologies, there are helpful strategies here for all veterinary team members to apply in their work and home lives.

Resources

Article: The role of veterinary team effectiveness in job satisfaction and burnout in companion animal veterinary clinics (JAVMA 2014): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25148093/ 

Article: Executive summary of the Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study III and Veterinary Support Staff Study (JAVMA 2022): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35943942/ 

Book: Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life (by Marshall Rosenberg). 

To Watch the Video Version of this Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcMSIENw6YI 

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/   

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com 

For a visual of the Life-Balance Matrix and Eisenhauer Box, please download this free PDF: https://revivingvetmed.com/timemanagement 
 

The holidays are here and while this time of year is exciting and energizing for many people, it can be exhausting and illness-provoking for others. According to the American Psychological Association, more than one-third of people surveyed during the holidays report an increase in their stress level due to time constraints, financial concerns, commercialism, the pressures of gift-giving, and, of course, family gatherings. 

It’s important that we don’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of traveling, buying presents, entertaining family and friends, or attending parties, without also taking steps to preserve our mental and physical health. In this episode, we share ten practical and evidence-based strategies for reducing stress, including ways to incorporate them into your busy holiday season.

Resources

Ten Tips for Staying Well This Holidays Season (Blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/ten-tips-for-staying-well-this-holiday-season/ 

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to my e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter 

Online Programs

To learn more about my 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.  

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com 

Stress, an inherent part of the veterinary profession, and one of the leading concerns among surveyed veterinary teams, can manifest both as eustress, beneficial for personal growth, and distress, leading to chronic exhaustion and overwhelming emotions. Research shows that veterinary professionals who have healthy strategies for coping with stress, are much less likely to experience psychological distress, which can manifest as symptoms of depression or anxiety.  

In this episode, we differentiate eustress from distress, and share information from the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study III that uncovers the importance of having a healthy method for coping with stress. We unpack some of those methods, why they are beneficial, and offer strategies to help you incorporate those activities into your daily life.

Resources

Navigating the Stop Stressors in Veterinary Practice (Blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/navigating-the-top-stressors-in-veterinary-practice/ 

Executive Summary of the Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study III and Veterinary Support Staff Study (Journal Article): https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/12/javma.22.03.0134.xml  

Volunteering Fosters Mental Health and Wellbeing (Podcast): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/10874177-volunteering-fosters-mental-health-and-wellbeing-episode-11-reviving-vet-med 

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to my e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter 

Online Programs

 To learn more about my 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, including my popular program Building Better Boundaries, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.  

Questions or Suggestions 

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com 

Toxic behaviors have deep-seated impacts on our wellbeing in veterinary medicine. Systematic changes, clear expectations, workload balancing, and candid communication are crucial to crafting a productive and safer work environment. 

In this bonus episode, I am interviewed by Dr. Stacey Cordivano, equine practitioner and host of The Whole Veterinarian podcast. During the episode, we discuss the influence of individual attitudes on a team's environment and dive deeply into the role that leadership needs to play in creating a safer and more open veterinary workplace.

Subscribe and Follow

The Whole Veterinarian podcast: https://thewholeveterinarian.com/podcast/ 

The Whole Veterinarian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewholeveterinarian/ 

Resources

Exploring the impact of toxic attitudes and a toxic environment on the veterinary healthcare team (article): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4688347/ 

The role of veterinary team effectiveness in job satisfaction and burnout in companion animal veterinary clinics (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25148093/ 

Quiz

Is Your Workplace Healthy or Toxic? https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/survey/isyourworkplacetoxic 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter 

Questions or Suggestions

Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com 

If you have ever given your cell number to a client when you didn’t want to, covered a shift for a team member when you felt exhausted and overwhelmed, or said yes to a neighbor who asked you for a work-related favor on your day off, then you are not alone. Unhealthy boundaries are common among veterinary team members and not only impact our relationships with others, but set us up for burnout and poor mental health. 

In this episode, we discuss the different types of unhealthy boundaries commonly experienced by veterinary professionals, as well as strategies for recognizing those boundaries if they aren’t obvious to you. Practical tools and strategies for identifying unhealthy boundaries in the moment by tuning into feelings, thoughts, and sensations are also covered.

Listen now and unlock your potential for a healthier, balanced, and fulfilling veterinary career!

TOPICS COVERED:

• Recognizing and honoring our needs and limits
• Reflection on daily non-negotiables for setting boundaries
• Unhealthy boundaries leading to resentment and physical discomfort
• Examples of unhealthy boundaries
• Unhealthy boundaries around time, tasks, and technology
• Impact on mental health

Resources

Quiz: Are your boundaries healthy or unhealthy? https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/survey/boundaries

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Has your life ended up the way you expected it would? Are you happy with your current work in veterinary medicine or does it no longer feel like the right fit? 

In this bonus episode, I am interviewed byJordan Banshea, VIN Foundation Executive Director and host of the Veterinary Pulse podcast. We recap my journey in veterinary medicine including how I believed I would always work in companion animal general practice and how and when I realized that was no longer my path. We also discuss my experience getting into veterinary school and how I ultimately came to be an advocate for mental wellness.  

Resources

Vets4Vets: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/ 

Please support the VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/

Please subscribe to the Veterinary Pulse podcast: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/podcast-veterinary-pulse/ 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Research demonstrates that Canadian veterinarians are more likely to experience mental health problems compared to the general population. Likewise, studies show that veterinary teams in the USA are experiencing rising rates of psychological distress, especially among young veterinarians and veterinary support team members.   

In this episode and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we discuss mental health and mental health problems among adults and veterinary teams, as well as the different forms of stigma and how that impacts seeking help for a mental illness. Practical tools and strategies that diminish stigma and foster mental health in the workplace are also shared. 

Resources

Dispelling five common myths about mental health (blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/dispelling-five-common-myths-about-mental-health/ 

Have you ever wondered which veterinarians have negative attitudes about mental health and why? (blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/ever-wondered-veterinarians-negative-attitudes-mental-health/ 

Veterinary Mental Health Initiative by the Shanti Project: https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/veterinary-mental-health-initiative/ 

Mental Health First Aid by the Mental Health Commission of Canada: https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/training/mhfa/ 

Johns Hopkins Psychological First Aid Training by Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/learn/psychological-first-aid 

The Working Mind by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/the-working-mind 

Downloads

For clickable links that will support the mental health and wellbeing of your team members, please download “Wellness Resources for Veterinary Teams”:  https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/wellnessresources

To learn about the benefits and ‘how to’ of debriefing a distressing event with your team, please download “Team Debriefing”: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/teamdebrief 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Do you ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel that you cannot get off of? Have you been a “workaholic” since your pre-veterinary school years and can’t seem to break the habit? Do you feel like a “fake” or a “fraud” when it comes to your aptitude or abilities as a veterinary care provider?

In this bonus episode, I am interviewed by Dr. Megan Sprinkle, host of the Vet Life Reimagined podcast. We recap my journey in veterinary medicine including my repeated experiences of workaholism and imposter syndrome. The conversation is rich and relatable and offers some tools and strategies for veterinary professionals to consider using as well. 


Video Version (YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYHf0JGGz2A

Resources

Please subscribe to the Vet Life Reimagined podcast (https://www.podpage.com/vet-life-reimagined/) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Focus group research has helped to identify what companion animal team members consider behaviors, attitudes, or situations that are prevalent in a toxic environment. While studies have shown that those who work in a toxic environment have higher burnout scores and lower job satisfaction, the good news is that there are ways to shift the culture and make the situation better.

In this episode, we discuss solutions for some of the situations that lead to workplace toxicity, whether you are an employee or leader in your veterinary practice. Practical tools and strategies will be shared to support taking steps toward a healthy environment that fosters wellbeing.

Resources

Exploring the impact of toxic attitudes and a toxic environment on the veterinary healthcare team (article): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4688347/

Brene Brown’s Engaged Feedback Checklist: https://brenebrown.com/resources/the-engaged-feedback-checklist/


Quiz

Is Your Workplace Healthy or Toxic? https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/survey/mHdXeZpubSXc


Download

How to Deal with a Difficult Coworker: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/HandlingConflict


Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com