Burnout is a psychological syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, feelings of detachment, and not having a sense of personal accomplishment.1 It is an increasing problem in veterinary medicine across the entire veterinary team, with 85% of respondents in 1 survey self-reporting issues.2
Burnout in medical professionals has significant implications and has been linked to increased medical errors and nosocomial infections, interpersonal work conflicts, staff absenteeism, turnover, and depression and anxiety.3-7
Impact on the Veterinary Team
Every member of the veterinary team runs into the potential for burnout. All are dealing with long work hours, concern for patients, and high levels of work–life conflict; the role of the practice owner and leadership teams, especially, has changed and become more complicated as a result of the pandemic.
Leaders can feel isolated during hard times, but they are likely not the only members of the team experiencing burnout. Leaders have the added responsibility of helping the team address and overcome burnout, which can make their own stress harder to manage.
Preventing Team Burnout Starts with a Positive Work Environment
Leadership teams play a key role in promoting a positive work environment, which is critical to helping prevent and overcome burnout.
To foster a positive workplace, team members should be provided with regular opportunities for personal development, team bonding, and education on both clinical and nonclinical topics. National Veterinary Associates (NVA) employs a department of experts dedicated to helping veterinary teams overcome the stress of the profession and positively engage with themselves and one another.
“If you want to care for others, you must care for yourself first. No one can successfully help others by breaking themselves down in the name of service,” says Turpin Mott, Chief Community Officer for NVA.
“As caregivers this may be a hard pill to swallow because so many of us feel a tremendous passion and calling to care for others. But, if we don’t care for ourselves first, what do we truly have to give to another?”
Turpin, a former US Marine, has spent >20 years as a coach, consultant, and wellness influencer, including helping fellow soldiers cope with combat fatigue. He and the NVA community team help veterinary caregivers overcome the often-silent tolls of the profession, teaching whole-body and mind wellness through seminars, coaching, and team retreats.
Quick Tips for Preventing Burnout
The first step in preventing burnout is admitting that times are hard. Openly acknowledging the challenges of the veterinary field and recognizing that feelings of stress or anxiety are nothing to be ashamed of can help validate others who are struggling. It is important to make sure team members know they are valuable and not alone. Leaders must invest in educating themselves and their team on ways to improve resilience and emphasize the importance of self-care.
To help prioritize personal and professional well-being, these tips from Turpin Mott and NVA’s community team can be considered:
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Take a few minutes a day to sit quietly or meditate
Prioritize good sleep and hygiene practices
Pursue interests outside of veterinary medicine
Allow yourself and others to say “no” and set appropriate boundaries with clients and other members of the team
Working Together Means Growing Together
In the age of continued social distancing considerations and everchanging mandates, team bonding activities can be difficult to coordinate but can be accomplished through outdoor meetups and virtual happy hours, painting sessions, or yoga classes. Helping others can also foster a positive environment, and teams can brainstorm ways to support clients with financial struggles or find ways to support other pets in need in their communities.
When faced with COVID restrictions, Turpin’s community team offered virtual healing retreats and launched the PAWcast series to help guide and empower veterinary teams to find balance through positive interactions with teammates and clients.
“The most impactful thing for me was letting go of things that I could not control,” says Dr. Jodi Long, Managing Veterinarian for Bay Glen Animal Hospital and the Feline Medical Center.
“I elected to be more positive and use the skills that I learned so I could process stress in a healthier fashion, and I serve as an example to my staff so they can also walk the walk.”
NVA’s PAWcast series offers bi-monthly wellness and self-care practices for all veterinary professionals. Lead by Turpin Mott, the series dives into mindful practices, wellness exercises, and transformative topics to guide veterinary professionals to better care for themselves and others and live more joyful, peaceful, fulfilled lives. PAWcast is free and available on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast providers.
Conclusion
Addressing and preventing burnout in the veterinary profession is a team effort and one that starts with the clinic’s leadership. NVA understands the role leadership plays in a productive workplace and offers comprehensive wellness programs and resources to help team members develop the emotional skills to better handle the ups and downs of their professional and personal lives. This people-first approach is the foundation of NVA’s culture of care and helps keep its veterinary community thriving in times of stress.