Coping with On-Call Responsibilities in Veterinary Practice | Episode 54 | Reviving Vet Med

11/28/24 • 28 min

Being on-call is a reality that many veterinary professionals face, often bringing long hours, interrupted sleep, and the pressure of urgent decision-making. The unpredictability of being on-call can disrupt personal lives, creating tension between professional responsibilities and the need for rest and recovery. This constant state of readiness can also lead to burnout and impact mental health, making it challenging to maintain work-life balance and focus on self-care.
In this episode, we explore the impact of on-call shifts on wellbeing and share strategies for managing the unique stressors of this demanding role. We'll discuss actionable ways to set boundaries, prioritize rest, and protect mental health, offering tools to help veterinary professionals not just cope, but thrive. Whether you're navigating on-call shifts yourself or supporting a team that does, this episode provides valuable insights for cultivating resilience and sustainability in your career.
Resources
On-Call Duties: The Perceived Impact on Veterinarians' Job Satisfaction, Well-Being and Personal Relationships (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34778429/
Retaining vets in farm animal practice: a cross-sectional study (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26002092/
Risk factors associated with veterinary attrition from clinical practice: a descriptive study (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34389973/
Support needs of veterinary surgeons during the first few years of practice: perceptions of recent graduates and senior partners (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11888109/
Factors associated with the career path choices of veterinarians in western Canada (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19721783/
'No-one knows where you are': veterinary perceptions regarding safety and risk when alone and on-call (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31611295/
Sleep patterns, fatigue, and working hours among veterinary house officers: a cross-sectional survey study (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35429371/
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Previous Episode

How the Big Five Personality Traits Impact the Wellbeing of Veterinary Professionals | Episode 53 | Reviving Vet Med

The Big Five Personality Traits—Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism—are key factors in shaping how individuals think, feel, and behave in different environments. These traits help explain personal differences in how we approach challenges, relationships, and stressors. In high-pressure fields like veterinary medicine, understanding these personality traits can offer valuable insights into how professionals cope with the demands of their work, manage stress, and interact with colleagues and clients.
In this episode, we delve into the connection between the Big Five personality traits and the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. We explore how traits like neuroticism and conscientiousness influence stress, burnout, and resilience among veterinary students and practitioners. Drawing on recent research, we discuss how these traits contribute to personal and professional challenges and offer strategies for navigating them. This episode provides a deeper understanding of how personality affects wellbeing in veterinary medicine, with practical takeaways for improving mental health.
Resources
Big 5 Personality Test: https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test
Characteristics of Veterinary Students: Perfectionism, Personality Factors, and Resilience: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32412364/
The Effect of Personality on Occupational Stress in Veterinary Surgeons: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28206844/
Exploring Valued Personality Traits in Practicing Veterinarians: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34478356/
The big five personality traits, perfectionism and their association with mental health among UK students on professional degree programmes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32487181/
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Team study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39032503/
Work-life balance is essential to reducing burnout, improving well-being: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38729208/
Name them to tame them (Ep. 1): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/episodes/10874187-name-them-to-tame-them-episode-1-reviving-vet-med
Meditation for veterinary skeptics (Ep. 16): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/episodes/10874187-name-them-to-tame-them-episode-1-reviving-vet-med
Can perfectionism lead to burnout? (Ep. 27): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/episodes/11866432-can-perfectionism-lead-to-burnout-episode-27-reviving-vet-med
Thank You to Our Sponsor Scribenote

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Next Episode

Digital Wellness for Veterinary Professionals | Episode 55 | Reviving Vet Med

Technology is deeply integrated into veterinary practice, from managing schedules to engaging with clients and staying connected through social media. However, excessive screen time comes at a cost, impacting mental health, sleep, and work-life balance.

In this episode, we explore the importance of digital wellness for veterinary professionals and share practical strategies for creating healthier tech habits. Learn about the effects of social media on mental health, how to set boundaries with screens, and the steps to perform a digital detox. Whether you're feeling stretched thin or simply looking for ways to regain focus and energy, this episode offers actionable tools to reclaim your time, enhance your wellbeing, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Resources
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study (2017): https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-wellbeing-and-scholarships/inaugural-2017-veterinary-wellbeing-study
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study II (2019): https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-wellbeing-and-scholarships/veterinary-wellbeing-study-ii
Is Facebook bad for the mental health of veterinarians? (blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/facebook-bad-mental-health-veterinarians/

Ten tips for limiting screen time and improving veterinary wellbeing (blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/ten-tips-limiting-screen-time-improving-veterinary-well/
Discerning the effect of the relationship between disclosure and responsiveness on depression, anxiety, and compassion fatigue among veterinarians (article): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36706015/
Thank You to Our Sponsor Scribenote
Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/4zm-dsr-wfh/scribenote-demo
Try 100 Notes for Free: https://app.scribenote.com/auth/register?referralCode=Reviving-VetMed
Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter
Online Programs
To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.
Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: [email protected]

Reviving Vet Med - Coping with On-Call Responsibilities in Veterinary Practice | Episode 54 | Reviving Vet Med

Transcript

Still writing medical records manually? Imagine reducing the mental load of a full day's patient care. With Scribenote, the AI powered veterinary SOAP creator, you can streamline record keeping effortlessly as if you had a personal scribe. I recently used Scribenote during a hectic string of emergency shifts when I managed over 20 cases in 12 hour days. It drastically cut down my medical record completion time, letting me focus more on patient care and less on paperwork. Scribenote has truly t