One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

RE: One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

caroline pye — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 09:56:42 GMT

I agree that the colleges do not give a student a realistic view as to what it is to be a vet and to work as a vet, but is seeing more practice the answer? I saw loads of practice as I loved it, often not getting home till 11pm at night when out with my local large animal vet. whilst seeing practice I had the "fun" of being covered in all sorts - birthing fluids, rotting retained placentae, anal glands, the works - and I did find it great and fun. but, despite being on very good terms with the vets I saw practice with - so much so that I worked for the afore mentioned large animal vet for 4 years after qualifying and still locum for the practice now every-so-often, in addition to my OOH job - for some reason the realities never really registered.

when seeing small animal practice, cases were seen and the vets were on the best behaviour because they were with me and because they were teaching me. clients were on their best behaviours, asking me if I was a student, where I come from, saying what a wonderful job it is etc etc. - never once complaining about costs or how the dog was not getting better etc. never once did anyone tell me that I would be verbally assaulted and almost physically assaulted, (twice so far). I was never warned that owners seem to take great joy in watching their vet-hating dogs have a go at the vets (not all I admit but I have met my fair share that, after I have been bitten by their dog say "Oh he never likes vets"). I was never warned of the constant pressure of not knowing if I had reached the correct diagnosis....and quick enough....because if you don't you get a complaint and possibly a letter written to the RCVS. I was never warned that there are clients out there that push for you to make fraudulent claims on their insurance for them and then get nasty when you wont. I was never warned about the tricky, nightmarish complexities for working OOH for a charity vets - where treatment is free and so much more convenient at 3am than during the day. I was never warned that the number of grumbles and complaints you receive far far far outweigh any thanks.....living with constant stress and constant complaints and the fear that the next one through the door might be the litigious client....and lets face it, they very rarely have a genuine reason to complain?....they always seem to be perceived wrongs?

I was also never warned, and never saw the human aspect behind the cases....the lady who had to have her cat put to sleep and it was the last living link to her son who had died aged 18, the lady who refused chemo on her dog and asked for euth as she had also been diagnosed with lymphoma and couldn't handle them both going through it together, the retired lady with swollen eyes from crying having her cat - her only companion - put to sleep, the 4month old puppy that had to be rehomed because his young owner had saved his girlfriend from being hit by car, only to be hit himself and to be in a permanent vegetative state. I can go on. I am sure everyone else can add to these stories.

we need to be empathic in our profession, otherwise we come across cold....but how hard is it to be empathic and to feel the pain of the owners every time you perform a PTS or give a terminal diagnosis? and of course we also fall in love with some of our animal patients - getting upset with the owners when they are suffering or when their time has come. None of this was mentioned at college, none of this was mentioned by the vets I saw practice with....for fear of upsetting us or for not wanting to scare us or put us off?? and none of this was actually seen as having a young student in the cons room seems to change the way everyone conducts themselves.

I am now wondering if I am guilty too of letting down students?? I have worked OOH for 5 years now - so no students....before that, I used to concentrate on teaching students techniques, how to look at bloods etc and never really mentioned the human aspects....so perhaps I too am guilty of hiding this side of the profession from my students?

it's a wonderful vocation - and it is a vocation as the hours are long, the pressures and stresses are high and the pay is appalling - but it is complicated and difficult and is tiring. I think we all go through the doubting stage....you just have to find your own way through it and to find acceptance. acceptance that it is what it is and you have to accept that you do the job for the love of it - or, if you are lucky, you are one of the vets who just thrive on the surgical challenge of e.g. orthopaedics or the fascination of e.g heart problems and it is this that keeps you focused and seems to protect against all the other issues?

RE: One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

Paul Dowie — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 13:05:05 GMT

The practice of everyday vetting is challenging but very rewarding .You have to like people and accept our clients have different expectations and tailor our approach accordingly .Burn out will partly be due to differing expectations .

If our main political leaders continue as they are it will get much worse .

We welcomed Lord Trees appointment to the House of Lords and then hear him delighting in the prospect of 3-4 new Vet colleges setting up.Wages down ,prospects down ,standards down .Then they will argue to deny all these but they will not be in practice to work in the consequences of the disaster they invite .

RE: One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

Gerry Henry — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:48:14 GMT

Poor selection is largely to blame, too many women, too many deeky academic types, unbelievably low experience of seeing practice before and during the course. We have recently had two girls doing pre-selection work experience, neither really evinced genuine enthusiasm and both, immediately on passing the entrance interview, disappeared. We have 3rd year students doing their FIRST SA placement. By the time I entered Glasgow I'd been hard-core practice for three years, every holiday was the same so that when I qualified I had a reasonable idea of what the job was all about and an idea how to go about it. One of our minimally exposed students could only do 2wks seeing practice in the summer because she was backpacking round NZ with a friend, that was the sort of thing we did AFTER we had qualified. Sorry, wrong types, wrong attitude, lack of true vocation.

RE: One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

Jill Pearson — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:50:40 GMT

Never mind the first ten years - I am dismayed at the number of young vets (1 - 3 years qualified) who are miserable and considering leaving the profession - often due to poor support in those critical early months/years. And ludicrous situations like having your afternoon off the same day as your on-call night. I know several who have with exhaustion and misery started to wonder if they are in the wrong profession. Can we help them? Has anyone looked at young UK vets?

RE: One in seven vets burnt out within 10 years

carolyne crowe — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:34:33 GMT

Indeed a worrying and yet not surprising outcome to the study. What are we doing about it as a profession? Are we just going to sit back and accept it?

Why as vets should we take second best, we are all intelligent people, lets do something about it.

Prehaps an easy thing to say and yet a hard thing to do…..

I would prefer a more proactive approach, lets make our lives and careers as a vet work for us. Ask yourself….

What one thing could you change that would improve your personal life?

What one thing could you change that would improve your professional life?

Identify it, make a plan and take action. If you need some help taking action, contact me and I can help you work it through.

With engagement of your staff…how are you currently engaging your staff? What tools are you using? Engagement is vital for everyone in a practice, it affects every single person from partners and their pockets, to the wellbeing of the staff, to the customer service provided to the clients….need a tool to make engaging and motivating your staff easier?…use behavioural profiling-understand your staff in minutes rather than months and know how to get the best out of each and every one of them…

Remember Einsteins definition of madness "doing the same thing again and again and yet expecting a different outcome"!

Be aware of where you are now, identify where you want to get to, and start closing the gap.

I am passionate about helping vets get the most out of their life and career as a vet. www.carolynecrowe.co.uk