{"id":34057,"date":"2024-05-01T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T00:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/?p=34057"},"modified":"2024-04-15T13:22:54","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T13:22:54","slug":"caring-for-the-compassionate-perfectionist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/caring-for-the-compassionate-perfectionist\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for the Compassionate Perfectionist"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I entered the veterinary profession, I had stars in my eyes. You might also say I had blinders on. Early in my career, I was driven by passion, fueled by scientific and medical knowledge from vet school, and prepared to blissfully live my dream of caring for animals. Today, with blinders off and 20\/20 hindsight, I can honestly say working in this profession is indeed one of the greatest honors of my life. But I confess that my vision didn\u2019t always align with reality, and many times throughout my career, especially during my early years in practice, I did not feel this way.<\/p>\n

Despite rigorous training, extensive knowledge, and experience, I was not prepared for certain realities of veterinary medicine. I faced challenges I\u2019d never considered before, scenarios we didn\u2019t learn about in veterinary school, including burnout, shame, loneliness, and isolation\u2014maladies that have reached epidemic proportions<\/a> in this country and that I now know disproportionately impact our profession.<\/p>\n

Paradoxically, the characteristics that can help us excel in clinical practice, including perfectionism, introversion, and compassion, are the same qualities that make us susceptible to burnout, compassion fatigue, and isolation. If you\u2019re anything like me, you might prefer the quiet companionship of our four-legged friends to a night out with a boisterous group of humans, and you worry late into the night about a treatment plan for a patient who can\u2019t talk, or whose owners are battling limitations, financial or otherwise, in choosing the path forward. Despite the countless joyful moments, sometimes it feels like the day-to-day lows overshadow the highs.<\/p>\n

The human-animal bond<\/a> is stronger than ever, and pet owner expectations are elevated. Today\u2019s veterinary professionals work long, intense hours, often in greater isolation and with increasing stressors, with studies finding some are considering leaving the profession altogether because of poor mental health, work-life balance, and burnout. As a profession, we are so compassionate and vested in caring for others that often we don\u2019t take time to care for ourselves, and we don\u2019t know when or how to ask for help.<\/p>\n

Decades into my career, I\u2019m encouraged by the broadscale awareness of the mental health challenges that veterinary professionals face and the progress we\u2019re making as an industry. However, stigmas persist, and educational models need to be disrupted. To alleviate pressures caused by the industry-wide veterinary shortage<\/a>, we must provide adequate staffing and support, including increasing team members, providing more training and flexibility, and fostering a culture of safety and belonging.<\/p>\n

Women make up much of the veterinary workforce, and many of us simultaneously care for children, parents, families, and our own beloved pets. As employers and team leaders, we must provide support by being realistic about the changing demands of veterinary professionals and expectations from clients. When we look for upstream solutions, we need to think about how veterinary professionals work differently \u2013 both day-to-day as well as across their entire careers. As a people leader, I strive to set clear boundaries, model self-care, express gratitude in the joyful moments, and ask for help in the low ones so that others feel empowered to follow suit. Expectations for achievement are high in this profession\u2014often self-imposed\u2014and we\u2019re hardwired to think we should be everything to everyone, but I\u2019ve learned that embracing humility is a powerful tool that can lead to better outcomes for veterinary professionals, and as a result, our patients.<\/p>\n

I also believe we should examine upstream solutions to the unique challenges our industry faces. We need to prepare veterinary professionals during their education, so perception better aligns with reality when they enter practice\u2014and provide mentorship early and throughout their careers. By removing the blinders and caring for our caregivers we will help create a sustainable future for our profession.<\/p>\n

There is a white space opportunity to teach both clinical and emotional skills, in school and in practice. Those entering the field value mentorship and coaching from those who can connect with them as practitioners and on a personal level. As a critical first step to ensuring veterinary professionals entering the field feel supported and prepared for all aspects of practice, we should prioritize:<\/p>\n