Psychological health and safety is a buzz phrase that is picking up traction when it comes to taking steps to create healthier, safer, and more supportive work environments. In this episode, we delve into the Veterinary Visionaries™ initiative, a groundbreaking collaboration launched in 2022 by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which brought together nearly 50 veterinary health stakeholders to address the profession's most pressing challenges. Among the innovative ideas that emerged from this initiative was the development of the Psychological Health and Safety Guidelines (PHSG), a comprehensive framework designed to foster workplaces where veterinary professionals can truly thrive.

We break down the key components of these guidelines, focusing on their potential to transform veterinary practice culture, enhance communication, and safeguard mental health. From leadership commitment to trauma-informed care, these guidelines offer actionable strategies that can be integrated into everyday practice to create a more supportive and resilient work environment. Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or team member, this episode provides essential insights into how the PHSG can be implemented to improve the wellbeing of your team and the quality of care provided to your patients.

Resources
Veterinary Visionaries Psychological Health and Safety Guidelines (PDF): https://veterinaryvisionaries.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/VV-Psychological-Health-Safety-Guidelines-June-2024.pdf

Veterinary Visionaries: https://veterinaryvisionaries.org/

Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety: https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/national-standard/

Bullying in Veterinary Workplaces (Episode 32): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/12189535-bullying-in-veterinary-workplaces-episode-32-reviving-vet-med

Showing Appreciation in the Workplace (Episode 8): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/10874180-showing-appreciation-in-the-workplace-episode-8-reviving-vet-med

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Mistakes are an inevitable part of veterinary practice, and if you’ve been in the field for any length of time, chances are you’ve made one. In this episode, we delve into the various types of mistakes that can occur, from minor errors like miscalculating a drug dose to more serious ones that may have significant consequences. Drawing from personal experiences and professional insights, we explore the emotional toll mistakes can take and share strategies for coping and thriving in their aftermath.

We discuss the importance of technical learning, full disclosure, expanding perspectives, and finding support among colleagues. Additionally, we emphasize the power of self-compassion in silencing the inner critic that often emerges after a mistake. Whether you’ve just made a mistake or are supporting someone who has, this episode offers valuable tools to help navigate the challenging yet common experiences that all veterinary professionals face.

Resources

Article: Medical errors cause harm in veterinary hospitals (Frontiers in Vet Sci 2019): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370638/

Article: Veterinarians' experiences with near misses and adverse events (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018): https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/252/5/javma.252.5.586.xml

Article: Veterinarians’ emotional reactions and coping strategies for adverse events in spay-neuter surgical practice (Anthrozoos 2018): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2018.1406205

Download: Self-Compassion Exercises After Making a Mistake: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/selfcompassion

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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: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Have you ever experienced feeling that you have somehow fooled everyone else around you into thinking you are smarter or more capable than you really are? Research demonstrates that just over two-thirds of veterinarians experience imposter syndrome, which is more common among female veterinarians and those in practice for less than 5 years. Imposter syndrome can be an excruciating experience for many professionals and can have dramatic consequences on a person’s wellbeing.

In this episode, we discuss the definition of imposter syndrome, predisposing factors and groups most impacted, who it impacts in veterinary medicine, and the different ways that it shows up in individuals’ personal and professional lives. We’ll finish by discussing practical and tangible ways to reduce imposter syndrome including quieting the inner critic. This is an episode you will want to share with others in your life who also experience feeling like a fraud.

Resources

Blog: If I’m Such a Successful Veterinarian, Why Do I Feel Like a Fraud? https://marieholowaychuk.com/2018/04/04/im-successful-veterinarianthen-feel-like-fraud/

Article: Veterinarians and impostor syndrome: an exploratory study (Vet Rec 2020): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32571984/

Book: Why do I feel like an imposter? How to understand and cope with imposter syndrome (by Dr. Sandi Mann)

Podcast: Do you feel like an imposter? (Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris): https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/valerie-young-574

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 or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com