If you work in the veterinary profession, you don’t need to be reminded how stressful your job can be. Even so, you show up every day to care for your patients. But too many talented, compassionate people are leaving the industry. There are many reasons why…
Your love of animals and your desire to heal and nurture are what keep you going. When you can alleviate a patient’s pain and suffering; when you see a client’s joy and relief after a positive prognosis; when a pet owner becomes a partner in proactively caring for their pet – these moments may be all the reminder you need for why you’re doing this work in the first place.
But there’s the other side of the story – the confluence of stressors that makes this work feel like a repeating cycle of fatigue and burnout with seemingly no end in sight. The reported level of serious psychological distress in veterinarians has risen significantly since 2019 – from 6.4% to 9.7% – and for veterinary staff that number is almost double, at a stunning 18.1%.
Morale has taken a hit as well, with less than 50% of veterinary practitioners recommending the profession and one in five regretting their decision to take up this work. The turnover rate for veterinarians (over 15%) is twice as high as that of physicians. In addition, veterinary technicians have one of the highest turnover rates (25%) of all healthcare professions.
At the most tragic end of this spectrum is the rate of suicidality in the profession. Veterinarians are 2.7 times more likely than the general public to die by suicide, and one in six have contemplated ending their lives.
We know there’s a problem. And we know there must be a better way. What can be done to alleviate not only the day-to-day stressors but those associated with the bigger picture of veterinary medicine?
To answer this question, first we must gain a clear understanding of the factors that drive such intense levels of stress and fatigue in veterinary practices.
Read more and download the free eBook from here:
For exclusive access to more offers like this, subscribe to our monthly newsletter
You may also like:
Career skills – Self-reflection