Wellbeing and veterinarians - thoughts from the New Zealand Veterinary Association's wellbeing symposium

The New Zealand Veterinary Association hosted its first symposium on veterinary wellbeing

I’ve just returned from the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s first ever wellbeing symposium, held in Christchurch. I was invited there to speak about ethics rounds, an intervention designed to help veterinary team members with ethically challenging situations that can lead to moral stress, moral distress, or even moral injury. More on that in a later post.

The reason for today’s post is to share a couple of the themes discussed at the symposium.

The MC, Dr Charlotte (Lotte) Cantley, opened the symposium with an incredible account of her recovery following a catastrophic and near fatal horse-riding accident (the horse was okay), and a grueling schedule of treatment and rehabilitation. According to Lotte, “resilience is not bouncing back to how we were but being flexible, adapting to and embracing the uncomfortable changes life throws at us”.

Given her account, uncomfortable is an understatement.

So here is my take on the major themes of the first day.

Collegiality and compassion

One thing that came through loud and clear was that one of the biggest impediments to the wellbeing of veterinary team members is, well, other veterinary team members. The way we treat one another, whether we are aware of it or not, impacts us. As speaker after speaker raised this issue, heads around the room nodded. Tears were quietly shed.

Sonja Olson, author of Creating Wellbeing and Building Resilience in the Veterinary Profession, argued that we need to stop referring to communication and people skills as “soft skills” and name them what they are – power skills, tools that improve collegiality, understanding, shared decision making, adherence to negotiated recommendations and ultimately, good clinical and policy outcomes. https://www.routledge.com/Creating-Wellbeing-and-Building-Resilience-in-the-Veterinary-Profession/Olson/p/book/9780367418793

Dana Carver, from GoodYarn (an evidence-based, peer-delivered mental health literacy program https://www.goodyarn.org/)  , talked about situations that negatively impact our mental health. As she said, when we suffer an obvious “sudden negative change or event” (like the death of a family member), people tend to be demonstrative in their care. They swoop in with offers of assistance. They make casseroles. But what happens when we experience other things that negatively impact our mental health? According to Dana, these include things like a lack of justice, a lack of life balance, relationship problems, poor physical health or chronic pain? In these situations, we aren’t good at asking for help…and people may not offer it. What we can do is make time, or make an effort to connect in some way. Its better to do something, ask the question, say something, than worry about looking like an idiot. I could recall plenty of missed opportunities to extend support to someone, to make that casserole.

We heard a lot about implementing wellbeing plans into practice, and ensuring that this was more than just promoting a token day. Stephen Hopkinson, the founder of a large dairy practice surveyed his own staff to ensure that the wellbeing plan subsequently developed would actually meet their needs. To his surprise, they found that gossip, negative comments, exclusion and not helping others were the number 1 things negatively impacting staff.

Sometimes this is coming from a place of anxiety or hurt. Those behaving this way may not even be aware that they are having this impact.

He argued that we need to ensure that the discussion about mental wellbeing isn’t just about vets. All team members need recognition. Hence his team celebrate:

• -        National Administrative Professionals day (April 26)
• -        World Veterinary Day (April 30)
• -        National Receptionist day (10 May)
• -        Veterinary Nurse and Technician Appreciation day (14 October)

Because winters are cold in New Zealand, they also run “soup days” in winter – providing staff with a small budget to buy ingredients on the practice account, so they can make soups and share with the team. According to them, this marries well with the “5 Ways to Wellbeing”:

1. Keep learning – learn a new soup recipe
2. Be active – dance and sing when you make the soup
3. Give – share the end product
4. Take-notice – mindfully sip your soup
5. Connect – rate each other’s soups, swap recipes, and cook together

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing bookmark, produced by the Mental Health Foundation https://mentalhealth.org.nz/five-ways-to-wellbeing 

Denise Quinlan, who acknowledged that everyone gets crispy, shared her strategies:

• -        Prioritise ruthlessly (so if someone asks you to do something new, which thing on your to do list do you need to bump?)
• -        Promote autonomy in the workplace
• -        Support one another
• -        Value each other
• -        Act fairly (avoid those perceived injustices)
• -        Provide clarity (lack of clarity about job roles was a big reason for people to be disgruntled at work)

Her colleague, Paula Davis (author of Beating Burnout at Work https://stressandresilience.com/burnout-book/ ), provided a list of “Tiny Noticeable Things” that we can do at work to help demonstrate that we value each other.

Source: Paula Davis, Beating Burnout at Work.

Imposter syndrome

Every speaker admitted that they have imposter syndrome. In fact, Sonja has given hers a name (I won’t share it here, you’ll have to ask her).

Imposter syndrome is well-documented among the general population, as well as veterinary team members https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32571984/ . It tends to flare when we try something new, or perform in front of our peers, or start a new job. In a profession where life and death and animal welfare and human wellbeing so often hang in the balance, imposter syndrome can serve us well, driving us to improve, not to rest on our laurels. No one could pin down a guaranteed way to manage imposter syndrome without throwing the baby out with the bathwater…but it helps to know that imposter syndrome is something that everyone struggles with – and probably gets worse the higher we achieve.

Massey University Dean of Veterinary Education Jenny Weston did remind everyone that we can ultimately be our own worst colleagues – engaging in critical, judgmental, and negative self-talk that we would never extend to anyone else. Not only did she have everyone up on the dancefloor – she commandeered a team of well-practiced back-up dancers.

Rather than worrying about our own imposter syndrome (she/he/they are, realistically, probably not going to leave us – as per above, they do serve us well on occasion), maybe it’s more productive to recognise that others are experiencing this too, and be aware of the way we might impact those around us by inadvertently reenforcing that, and perhaps not doing enough to show our appreciation.

Mental wellbeing tips from Dr Natasha Wilks

 

Dr Natasha Wilks, a veterinarian and career coach, in surgery.

It seems everywhere you turn, everyone is burned out. The world wasn’t prepared for a global pandemic, nor its acute, chronic and acute-on-chronic impacts.

We know that the veterinary sector, like many others, has been hit with an increased case load in the face of a major workforce shortage. In some ways, it is a blessing. Tourism, hospitality, the arts and many other sectors have been decimated. Teachers, healthcare providers and those caring for others have had to deal with unprecedented and frequent change. We know, because many people in these sectors are our clients. Many of us are living in lockdown (I don’t think I’ve written a post without using the L word for some time now).

“While hugely rewarding, the veterinary profession also entails numerous challenges to mental health that necessitate the need for proactive management. Currently, the increase in workload is exceeding capacity all day, every day.  Vets are exhausted and overwhelmed.  It is like running an ultra-marathon.  There is currently a huge demand for vets and nursing staff, and with everyone in the practice being so busy, there can be breakdowns in team dynamics,” said Dr Wilks.

Dr Wilks is supporting the partnership between leading Animal Health company Zoetis and Beyond Blue, which is in its sixth year, with an on-demand webinar, Wellbeing for Vet Practices, with practical strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing in practice for vets and clinic staff. 

Zoetis is supporting mental health challenges in our sector by donating to Beyond Blue. Over the past five years, Zoetis has helped raise $500,000 by donating $5 from products sold during the campaign period (July to October 2021). They aim to raise another $100.000 by the end of 2021.

According to Lance Williams, Zoetis Senior Vice President and Cluster Lead, Australia and New Zealand, all funds raised will go towards the Beyond Blue Support Service.

 

“To date, Zoetis’ donations across veterinary and rural farming initiatives have allowed over 8,000 people, including vets, to get the help they need through the Beyond Blue Support Service and we are hoping to help more people this year,” he said.

 

This support is vital. You may be aware of reports of support services receiving record calls. According to Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman, the Beyond Blue Support Service continues to experience increased demand since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

What can we do about mental health? Dr Wilks offers five tips.

 

·       Start with you - Everyone is different, so it’s important to understand what is challenging you and why. Where possible, try to identify issues or instances that you find stressful and question what core values of yours they are at odds with.

·       Understand what works for you - There are definitely some basics that everyone should work on to help with their mental health, the key five - physical activity, healthy nutrition, sleep, taking breaks and holidays.

·       Change your perspective - As vets, we go through academia seeing mistakes as failures that affect our grades. In the real world, we need to live with the unexpected, so we have to be realistic and kind with ourselves to grow from adversity.

·       Find empowerment - Clinical Leaders and Practice Managers should provide a clear process for dealing with customers and guidance on when to escalate problems. Letting team members know that they have your support and what they can say in tough situations will give them the confidence to engage and disengage as needed. Part of dealing with difficult conversations is also understanding that customers are going through some of the same challenges we are.

·       Speak out and get help – Reach out to organisations that specialise in supporting mental health. Beyond Blue has developed a free six-week program, NewAccess for Small Business, that offers support by trained mental health coaches who have a background in small business. For more information, visit www.beyondblue.org.au/newaccess-SBO

In addition to the NewAccess program, the Beyond Blue Support Service offers free and immediate counselling, advice and referrals via phone, webchat or email. Beyond Blue’s online resources can help people take steps towards recovery and feel less alone. Beyond Blue’s online forums tap into a peer network that gives people connection and support from others who have been through similar experiences. The forums are safe and welcoming, monitored by a specially trained team.

For more information about depression and anxiety, visit www.beyondblue.org.au. To talk to a mental health professional for free, contact the 24/7 Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 46 36.

Free web chat is also available from 3pm until midnight at beyondblue.org.au/getsupport and you can join the forums for free and download the safety planning BeyondNow app from the website.

For more information for veterinary professionals on how to support Zoetis to raise funds to encourage mental health through its partnership with Beyond Blue, visit zoetis.com.au

Writing non-fiction: a workshop for veterinary team members

The Vet Cookbook, spotted on a bookshelf in the UK!

If you’re experiencing low morale, you’re not alone. This blog is coming to you from Sydney, Australia, officially in week 8 (or 9, I am losing count) of hard (and getting incrementally harder) lock-down, but essentially week 12 because of a voluntarily lock-down preceding the official one (somehow it just didn't feel right interacting closely with people socially while COVID was re-emerging in Sydney).

The hard lock-downs necessitated by the circulation of the COVID-19 Delta strain seem to be taking their toll on everyone I know, in profound and sometimes heartbreaking ways.

One of my personal coping mechanisms is reading, usually whilst acting as a human hot water bottle for a certain cat in my life. There’s nothing like a gripping story – whether fiction or fact-based – to take your mind to another place. And reading is COVID safe!

Which brings me to the big news: the Vet Cookbook Committee has secured a brilliant author/teacher to run our second ever writing workshop for veterinary team members.

The first online workshop was taught by award-winning author Tracy Sorensen, who, among other things, is currently writing a cancer biography from the perspective of her abdominal organs. If you missed the workshop on creative writing but want to learn more, I recommend Tracy’s novel The LuckyGalah. A beautiful, richly evocative novel, both uplifting and surprising. I am waiting desperately for it to be made into a movie or series.

Our second online workshop, this time on narrative non-fiction, will be taught by author and school teacher Brendan James Murray. Brendan has twice received National Literary Awards from the Fellowship of Australian Writers for his short stories, and his first book, The Drowned Man, was joint winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime in 2017. His second book, the critically acclaimed Venom, was featured on the ABC's Conversations program as part of the 'Best of 2018' series (it is, along with the Lucky Galah, on my personal list of best Australian books of all time). His third book, The School was released by Picador Australia in 2021 and proved a gripping read.

This workshop is on narrative non-fiction.

Brendan James Murray, author of The Drowned Man, Venom and The School.

So, if you feel like you have a story – or a book – inside you, consider enrolling. And if you don't feel much like a writer but you enjoy a good read, the books by both of these authors are outstanding.

As I am sure I have mentioned, when we compiled the Vet Cookbook, it became clear that many members of our profession are terrified of being negatively judged (even about a recipe). This workshop is a safe space where veterinary team members are free to express themselves. 

There are 23 places left in the two-part workshop, to be held from September. The not-for-profit workshop is subsidised by funds raised by the Vet Cookbook to promote the well-being of veterinary team members.

For more information and to enroll, check this page. Enrollment is open to all veterinary team members, regardless of their writing ability.

Veterinary Bibliotherapy: Burnout – A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery

“...you might suppose that burnout rates would be highest in those whose work simply because they have to, be less evident in those whose work furnishes them with a career, and lowest of all in those who are passionate about their work. We, however, argue that the inverse applies, as burnout rates appear lowest in those who work simply as a job, higher in those who view their work as a career, and highest in those whose work is at the level of a 'calling'.”

(Gordon Parker, Gabriela Tavella and Kerrie Eyers, Burnout: A guide to identifying burnout and pathways to recovery.

Burnout is a hot topic right now, particularly in the veterinary profession due a proliferation of recent studies documenting high levels of burnout among veterinary team members.

When I first heard the term, I can't pinpoint the date but I'm guessing two decades ago, burnout seemed very much framed around the individual. Maybe people who went too hard and, like a candle, simply burned to the wick. When I began my career, people said “don’t work too hard or you’ll burn out”, as if there were a threshold level of work beyond which burnout became a certainty.

In contrast, people were also saying things like “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”, “immersion is the key to success”, and “you need to get as much experience as you can”. People talked about work-life balance, but they behaved according to the mantra that good veterinary team members worked hard.

Since then, there seems to be much debate about the biggest problems in our profession: is our main scourge compassion fatigue? Empathy fatigue? Moral distress? Secondary trauma? Burnout? Which of these are responsible for career attrition or rates of suicide in our profession?

It is against this background that I read Burnout: A Guide to Identifying Burnout and Pathways to Recovery by Gordon Parker, Gabriela Tavella and Kerrie Eyers (Allen &Unwin). This book manages to discuss, in an engaging way, the evolution of the understanding of burnout, what it is, and what it isn't, and what we need to do about it.

Burnout isn't a medical diagnosis (at least not yet). According to the World Health Organisation InternationalClassification of Diseases (ICD-11, 2018), burnout is a syndrome comprising

• feelings of energy depletion/exhaustion
• increased feelings of detachment from one's work, or feelings of cynicism or negativity
• decreased professional efficiency. 

According to the authors of Burnout, compassion fatigue may be a component of burnout, “being part of a broader 'inability to feel' or lack of joie de vievre”.

The authors explain that there is no single magic bullet, no single brain or endocrine pathology to target, no proven pharmacological cure, and no one-size- fits-all plan to treat burnout. They do stress that any strategy requires addressing both the worker and work conditions. The individual and the system they work within. And by work they also mean the work of carers.

Most scientific papers I've read on burnout to date utilise the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to measure burnout. The authors of this book developed the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM), and used it to perform a number of large studies on burnout which they argue revealed different features of burnout. One example is the presence of cognitive impairment, which may manifest as difficulty concentrating or poor memory. They also found an association between perfectionism and burnout. Relatable?

The authors talk about occupations at high risk, including doctors, nurses, lawyers, managers, police and veterinarians.

According to Professor Parker, factors increasing the burnout risk for veterinarians include long hours, high university debt, low remuneration, difficult interactions with clients, animal death and euthanasia. High levels of perfectionism have been reported among veterinary professionals.

“Prevention strategies would require addressing salient drivers and handling perfectionism,” he said.

While burnout isn't a medical diagnosis, the authors warn that employers should take appropriate precautions and limit liability.

The book outlines the key components of addressing burnout:

• addressing work issues
• adopting strategies to manage stress
• address the trait of perfectionism

It contains a number of in-depth case studies, as well as mentions of well-known figures who have been alleged to have burnt out over time. I didn't know, for example, that Florence Nightingale and William Osler likely suffered from severe burnout at times in their illustrious careers.

The book's appendix contains the Sydney Burnout Measure, a checklist of workplace triggers and a perfectionism scale.

Overall this is a very readable book. It is based on science, and written by the scientists who undertook the studies it is based on, yet it is accessible and even – I dare say – enjoyable to read. 

Mental wellbeing for veterinarians - two conferences and a fundraising initiative

When I finished reading Nadine Hamilton's fantastic book, Hero used it as a pillow.

Have you noticed all the talk about well-being and veterinary professionals lately? There has been an explosion of publications about exodus from the profession, but equally there have been new resources like psychologist Nadine Hamilton’s book Coping with Stress and Burnout as aVeterinarian. 

Animal welfare, human well-being and environmental sustainability are inextricably linked. This idea is the foundation of the “OneWelfare” concept but also one that I have come to subscribe to because of my experiences as a veterinarian.

The good news is that finally society, and our profession, are coming to understand that you can’t do good animal husbandry if the humans looking after those animals aren’t looked after. You can’t look after humans and animals if the environment that supports all life is being harmed.

In October this year the Centre for Veterinary Education is hosting a two-day conference on One Welfare at the University of Sydney.

This is the perfect opportunity to meet solutions focused colleagues who want to tackle some of the bigger picture issues that will impact us all – and by us I mean humans, other animals and the environment.

For more info and to register, click here: https://www.cve.edu.au/conference/one-welfare-conference-ii

On Wednesday October 16 there is a one-day symposium on Mental Wellbeing for Veterinary Teams. This is a not for profit event facilitated by funds-raised by the Vet Cookbook. Registration is very cheap and covers catering.

For more info and to register, click here: https://www.cve.edu.au/symposium/mental-wellbeing-veterinary-teams-symposium

Speakers include those from within but also many from outside of our profession. This day promises an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate, network and gain a sense of perspective about the current “mental health crisis”.

Please come along and contribute your ideas and energy.

I am of the firm belief that its one thing to participate in dialogue online about these issues, but meaningful action tends to come from face-to-face meetings where people have a chance to learn about each other. This is a rare chance to get a lot of members of our profession - vets, nurses, practice managers, groomers, kennelhands, stablehands, animal carers and students - into one space. That's how the magic happens.

Its great to see companies like Zoetis coming on board. Last week they announced a partnership with Beyond Blue in which they hope to raise up to $100,000 to support mental health in Australia. These kind of initiatives are important and should be encouraged.

Hopefully, with the encouragement of our profession, companies like this will put funds behind initiatives to help improve our sustainability - both in terms of human and animal welfare but also the environment. 

According to a company statement (slightly edited here for length):

  

“Whilst vets can be seen as the heroes of our community for treating and saving the lives of some of our most treasured family members, it can often be at significant cost to their mental health...

Day in day out, vets undergo a great deal of stress, not only caring for sick animals, but compassionately and knowledgeably working with the owners to provide the best care and treatment. Entering the profession because of their love for animals, they are often not prepared for the emotional pressures of the job. Whether it’s counselling a family through the decision process to euthanize, or having to carry out the procedure on a pet they have been treating regularly, vets suffer with grief every day. “We are very passionate about improving mental health and are proud to partner with Beyond Blue to tackle these very real issues affecting our vets, who suffer as a result of supporting our community,” says Lance Williams, Zoetis Vice President, Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond Blue Lead Clinical Adviser Dr Grant Blashki explains, “From my experience as a GP, people working in high pressure environments like veterinary services tend to experience more stress than people working in some other areas. “Things like long hours, financial worries and the emotional aspects of the job can start to pile up and impact their mental health. People working in such a caring profession often feel like they can’t justify time to look after their own mental and emotional wellbeing, but it’s incredibly important that they do.”

Natasha Wilks, a veterinarian for 20 years and Beyond Blue volunteer says, “There are so many things which weigh on our minds; the long hours, financial struggles, and the difficult situations we are placed in.
 “During my final and seventh year of study, I was feeling exhausted and burnt out, I had spent the last seven years working every weekend and weeknight. It all came to a head when I had a rotation where we lived at the veterinary hospital to monitor all the patients overnight. I was very teary and didn’t want to do it. This was my turning point to seeking help.
 “For me to reach out and admit that I wasn’t coping was a massive step. I’d been brought up to soldier on and to deal with things myself. I realised I couldn’t keep doing it anymore. I was exhausted, depressed and I needed help.” Natasha has experienced many ups and downs throughout her veterinary career in different working environments adding, “Nowadays I recognise when I’m becoming exhausted and I’ve learned to slow down.”
 “For me, the signs are when I become more negative, frustrated and judgmental, less willing to spend time with friends and I let things get to me.”

“My identity isn’t tied to my veterinary career anymore, so when I have challenges in practice I try not to take it personally and focus on the things I can control.”

Part of taking control for Natasha has been about finding what she loves and making time to enjoy them.  “Exercise is really important in helping me stay well. I don’t pound the pavement, but I walk with our old retriever who still has a lot of energy. I walk and smell the air, notice all the new flowers and listen to the birds,” she said. 

Zoetis is committed to helping offer greater support to our vets and will be raising $100,000 from sales of their companion animal products, as well as livestock products, from 15 July to 31 October, with funds being used by the Beyond Blue Support Service, to provide advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 “The Support Service, entirely funded by generous donations, is a free, life-changing and sometimes life-saving service, there for people day and night – via phone, web chat or email – whenever they need someone to talk to,” said Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman.
 The Beyond Blue Support Service costs on average $48 per contact with counsellors available by phone, webchat or email, meaning Zoetis’s kind donation will help over 2,000 people get the support they need through the service. For more information on how you can help Zoetis to raise vital funds and support mental health through its partnership with Beyond Blue please visit www.zoetis.com.au Mental health professionals are available 24/7 at the Beyond Blue Support Service – 1300 22 4636 – or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat (3pm-12am ADST) or email (within 24 hours).”

The Riptide Project: helping our profession, one cuppa at a time

Imagine being able to debrief over a cuppa with a veterinarian who gets it? Or gaining an insight into the career trajectories of others? The Riptide Project, established by New Zealand veterinary student Vicki

Lim provides just that. They’re looking for stories, and veterinarians – anywhere in the world – who are prepared to share their wisdom over a cuppa with other veterinarians.

Vicki explains how it works here.

How did you get the idea for The Riptide Project?

The Riptide Project currently exists in two forms. One is the sharing of stories from veterinary professionals from all over the world. The other is the “cuppa” register where veterinary professionals can get in touch to either give or receive a cuppa.

I was initially working on a different veterinary mental health initiative. I left when it began to take on a more profit-driven direction, as that didn’t sit well with my personal views on improving mental health in the veterinary profession. I was already slated to speak at WSAVA 2017 in Copenhagen so had to come up with something else on the fly, so I looked towards my previous experience in the industry. 

As a vet student, one of the things I really enjoyed was getting out and seeing practice and interacting with the vets and nurses. So many people in our profession have such diverse and valuable experiences. I wanted to share these insights with other veterinary professionals in the hope that it would strike a chord with them, or provide a perspective that they would not have otherwise experienced.

I’ve very thankful for the support of Hill’s Pet Nutrition NZ, Boehringer Ingelheim NZ, and Massey University, for their generous help in bringing The Riptide Project into being. I wouldn’t have been able to do this on my own!

How does it work?

I have an informal chat with the vets and nurses you see on the page. It usually takes an hour or so, and I try not to ask any pointed questions – I prefer to let the people ramble and share their stories. The conversations are recorded and transcribed, so it’s easier for me to be mindful while I speak with these veterinary professionals, rather than try and remember verbatim what they’re saying. I upload a selection of quotes with photos – a good number are shot in film, to keep it old school and even more intimate.

As for the cuppa register, veterinary professionals usually write to The Riptide Project directly, or the learn about it from the website at https://www.theriptideproject.com/cuppa.

To date, we have had way more people willing to give their time and a cuppa to a fellow veterinary professional than people who have written in to ask for one, but we’re hoping to change that and get some cuppa buddies going!

Have you had many people sign up and are you looking for more?

The interest in people who are keen to help out has been really heart-warming, but we are definitely still looking for more!! It’d be fantastic to get this off the ground and to a point where these veterinary professionals who want to help their colleagues are able to do so easily. So if anyone who is reading this needs a listening ear, or who wants to be one, we want you!

How do you think vets and nurses can help each other?

I think the dynamics of each vet/nurse relationship really differs, so it’s hard to generalise. But some of the best vet/nurse relationships I know of involve experienced mentors devoting time and attention to fresh graduates, highly skilled nurses who are able to pre-empt vets’ needs, and enable them to perform their duties efficiently (and vice versa), and vets/nurses who are just great mates. 

I once asked a vet and nurse together what helps them to cope with the stresses of the job, and they both pointed at each other and said “her”. Having a supportive workplace and colleagues is essential, and I think the sooner we come to the realisation that we are all one big team, the better.

For more information, visit www.theriptideproject.com, check out their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theriptideproj/ or follow on Instagram: theriptideproject 

Study: what is resilience in the veterinary profession?

What does it mean to be resilient?

What is resilience? The dictionary definition refers to the ability to “bounce back” or recover from adversity. It’s a word we’re hearing a lot in relation to the veterinary profession of late, as building resilience may be one way to reduce suffering of people in our field.

This is where you can help. If you are a veterinarian who graduated over five years ago, you are invited to participate in some research focusing on

professional motivation, resilience and efficacy. It explores what “resilience” means to mid and late career veterinarians in Australia and the factors that contribute to this.

The project is being conducted by Dr Michelle McArthur (University of Adelaide), Dr Ingrid van Gelderen (University of Sydney), Dr Susan Matthew (Washington State University), Dr Aaron Jarden (Flinders University) and Mr Matthew Iasiello (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute). The project is funded by a Seed Grant from the University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Science.

The aim is to create a model of what resilience looks like in veterinary practice, from the mid and later career veterinarian’s perspective, and identify strategies that might be useful for veterinarians in sustaining their resilience throughout their careers.

Participation involves an online survey, plus, if you are available, a follow up interview. According to the researchers, “Your participation will contribute to helping better understand how mid and late career veterinarians enjoy a successful and rewarding career. We hope that by better understanding your experiences, we can help to inform veterinary education and the wider profession about ways to support professionals in an engaging and rewarding career.”

Participation will involve completion of a brief online survey which should take approximately 15 minutes of your time. Your participation is voluntary and anonymous and all data collected will be strictly confidential. At the end of the survey you will be invited to participate in a follow-up interview study aimed at exploring resilience in detail in mid and late career veterinarians. You can also elect to go into the draw to win one of five $20 direct debit cards.”

A more detailed participant information sheet, and the survey, can be reached here.