Among veterinary professionals, burnout is a key contributing factor to the decline of satisfaction through one’s career. Although many veterinarians and technicians enter the profession with a high level of passion and interest, there is a trend toward increasingly dissatisfied veterinary professionals.  Causes of burnout range from financial stress due to high debt load to emotional issues such as compassion fatigue suffered as a consequence of frequent exposure to suffering of clients or patients. Additionally, long hours and sometimes monotonous work days can result in boredom or dissatisfaction. One way to remain fulfilled and connected is to find a way to continue to grow, stay challenged, and find roles within the industry that are best suited to one’s talents and desires.

The mental health and wellness of the veterinary team are just as important as any other aspect of hospital management. The issue of snap judgment - of each other, of clients, and of the general public - will wear down our mental resiliency. This lecture will address the common pitfalls we fall into, sometimes without even knowing it, that chip away at our emotional reserve and give ideas for hospital-wide wellness programs to help your team stay focused and happy.

Developing all members on the veterinary health care team is important to patient and client care and hospital profitability. In the busy veterinary hospital today, it may seem impossible to find the time to train or create learning plans. In this session we’ll discuss simple strategies to create a culture of learning and support team development to engage and retain team members.