Blog Tag
So Many Other Things: The Reality of Veterinary Practice Part 4 - It takes two to practice

There is little doubt that the veterinary practice someone works for can impact the quality and quantity of their career, sometimes beneficially, sometimes not. The importance of finding the right practice cannot be overstated, especially for new graduate...
Tips for self-care over the Christmas holidays...& every day

This time of the year can be tough for many people. Looking after ourselves is crucial if we want to maintain a healthy level of wellbeing - that doesn't just mean physically, but psychologically as well. Typically, the Christmas period can be a stressful...
So Many Other Things: The Reality of Veterinary Practice Part 3 - After-Hours

Holding a mirror to the veterinary industry... The challenges of after-hours work are known to many - trying to work out what's going on, determining correct drug doses, sometimes with little experience and often with no backup.......
So Many Other Things: The Reality of Veterinary Practice Part 2 - Hustle & Bustle

The rhythm of a typical day at Brudine is dictated by an ongoing tussle between order and unpredictability. Setting order are the appointments schedule (for consultations) and the hospital board (for surgeries, diagnostics, observations and boarders). Lik...
So Many Other Things: The Reality of Veterinary Practice - Part 1

Holding a mirror to the veterinary industry to see the realities you work with every day. I came across Michael Weinhardt's 'So Many Other Things' photographic essay and accompanying articles a couple of weeks ago. I was drawn to the honesty in the photos...
10 things to say (& 10 not to say) to a friend suffering mental health problems

You may have a friend, family member or veterinary colleague suffering from mental health issues. But knowing what to say to offer help and support can be a challenge. You don&t want to say the wrong thing or something that may make them feel even worse....
Work in the veterinary industry? Then it's probably time for a REAL break.

I'm starting to realise that the countdown to both Christmas and the end of 2017 is now upon us. And for those of you lucky enough to be taking a break from work and perhaps going away for a holiday it's also time to start thinking about that too. But wh...
5 Steps to take a permanent U-turn on unhealthy habits

Have you got a bad habit going? Something that is not only failing to add anything to your life but may even be subtracting from it? Something you want to change but don't know how to? Follow this logical and science-backed approach to show...
What happened to Vetanswers? Well...

Why has our veterinary community been so quiet? First up I'm so sorry for seemingly disappearing for such an extended period. I realised I may have to take a break for a few weeks but didn't realise it would stretch out for as long as it has........
Turn down the churn - getting your mind off your veterinary work

Mind churn... it's a common occurence in the veterinary industry. You go to work, work hard, do your best and head off home to rest and recover in preparation for repeating the process the next day. You get home, change into clothes that don't smell ......
Veterinary Superhero? Not always ... (& that's ok)

Even though sometimes we may feel it, the fact is that none of us are superheroes. And we can't always achieve everything we think we should all the time. Sometimes we just need to say, "At this point in time, this is the best I can do." And be ok with it...
Excessive hours & demands in veterinary practice? What to do when your boss won't listen

Things are changing in the veterinary industry - but for some it's not changing fast enough. Many, maybe even most employers are cognizant of their duty of care to the physical and psychological health of their employees but there are a few recalcitrants...
Getting the monkeys off your back – how not to take everything on

If you work in a veterinary practice, you'll know how diffcult it is to NOT take everything on.... There is a lovely little video on dvm360 where they use the analogy of loading more and more monkeys on your back as you go through your day. the monkeys re...
How many hours of work a week is too many in your veterinary practice?

In my simplistic view of the world, I consider people to be a lot like cars. We put fuel in our cars and this allows us to drive where we need to go. Similarly, practising self-care (think adequate sleep, good nutrition, exercise and supportive relations...
Lunch should not be a luxury in your veterinary practice

Make lunch breaks the norm and take one small step towards a healthier workplace. Why is it that unhelpful habits form so easily? You have a busy week and get behind on your work, so you choose to skip lunch or maybe to eat it whilst you are doing ........
Study tips for veterinary (and all other) students...

Studying? It's that time of the year..... I've noticed lots of posts on social media with the hashtags #vetstudent #nosleep #sacrifice #examtime so I thought I'd ask Dr Cathy Warburton for some tips to help with study and exams...
Don't be afraid of mental health first aid for your veterinary practice

We can all be gatekeepers of each other's mental health in the veterinary industry. A Veterinarian in your practice seems a little different lately. She is quieter and you're noticing she is struggling to make quick decisions. Additionally, she has .........
Your personality is not fixed - neuroplasticity means you CAN change your spots

You can't teach an old dog new tricks a saying that is as old as the hills, but is it true? The first references to the concept of not being able to teach an old dog new tricks occurred back in the 1500's. This and the related saying, leopards can't chan...
Having a sucky day? Then it might help to CLING on...

Working in veterinary practice is difficult enough but if you have a day where everything goes wrong what can you do? You know those days where everything you touch turns to stinky diarrhoea ? What do you do to get yourself back on track? We all have tho...
Are you successful AND happy in your veterinary job?

How do we become, and stay, successful in veterinary practice? It has been said that success in veterinary practice comes when we have that sweet combination of clinical ability, interpersonal and personal skills. We in the veterinary industry are great a...
Pets in the Park share the spirit of Easter with homeless people and pets

Pets in the Park provides free veterinary care at monthly vet (health) clinics & quarterly desexing clinics for much-loved animal companions of people struggling with homelessness. .......
Veterinary Industry: things I'll need.... 3. Optimism & Resiliency - one and the same?

We often hear about being more optimistic or resilient, but what does this actually mean? And are they just the same thing and derive from just thinking positive thoughts? The answer to this is no. While optimism is the basis of positive thinking, there...
Veterinary Industry: things I'll need..... 2. Understanding my Personality

So what does your personality have to do with the way you work, communicate, or deal with stress? The answer to this is simply "quite a lot!". When you think about it, there are lots of different personality styles out there. Some people have an optimist...
Veterinary Industry: things I'll need..... 1. Coping Skills

We talk about 'coping' and 'coping skills' all the time, but what do they actually mean - especially for those working in the veterinary industry?And is it possible to learn 'coping skills'?...
Everyone needs proactive strategies for coping in the veterinary industry
Veterinarians have long been considered the guardians of animal welfare and health, however, their role has increasingly become more diverse, which is reported to increase pressure on this occupation. Additionally, the hardships of working within the vet...
Work in the veterinary industry? You need to understand compassion fatigue

Compassion Fatigue has been described as the "cost of caring for others in emotional and physical pain. Compassion fatigue can be described as an emotional or spiritual exhaustion that takes over an individual. It is a state of tension and preoccupation w...
Are you prepared for the many aspects of being a veterinarian?

There are so many aspects to the work of being a vet that it is so easy when you are on the outside to only see the awesome parts (such as the puppies or kittens) and think that the job is AWESOME, or to look at the sad parts (when a much loved family...
From tweets to notes: 1st Internat. Symposium for Veterinary Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

There was so much information and experiences discussed by all the speakers at the '1st International Symposium for Veterinary Mental Health and Suicide Prevention' in Brisbane on Friday 29th May. I tested my tweeting skills and live tweeted throughout...
So what exactly is a 'Wellbeing Coach' for veterinarians?

I came across Nadine and her work via Twitter and was fascinated to hear about her role as a 'Wellbeing Coach for Vets' and I wanted to know more so I contacted Nadine & asked her a few questions.......
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- AniPal - leading by example to inspire the veterinary & animal industries
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- Ever feel like a total failure in your veterinary job?
16 February, 2019 (In 1. Mental health resources)