BizQuiz: Can you battle job burnout?

You don't want to drive to work in the morning. You're emotionally exhausted when you come home. You're wondering why you ever picked this job.

If that's you, you need help—and fast—if you want to stay in the veterinary hospital doing what you used to love: caring for patients and clients. Take this short quiz to find out what kind of burnout is scorching you and how to handle the top issues confronting veterinary team members at the end of their rope.

When you finish, check out the related links at the bottom of this page for articles to cool off your scorching burnout.

1. Like snowflakes, everybody's burnout is unique. Pinpointing the cause of your burnout will help you beat it. Pick the phrase that best describes your feelings about work right now.

A: You feel generally depressed. You wake up every morning and dread going to work because you have to face your team members and clients. You feel emotionally drained and unable to please anyone at your practice—or maybe they never please you. You’re nervous in team meetings or when you have to talk to clients.

B: You’re antsy, cranky, and unexcited about work. Maybe you're a receptionist tired of just answering the phone. Or you’re a veterinary assistant sick of restraining day in, day out. Or a veterinary technician practicing the same skills you learned 10 years ago and learning nothing new. No matter your job title, you're bored.

C: You can’t enjoy your personal life because you’re constantly thinking about work. Unfortunately, you dread going to work. Perhaps you can’t sleep, perhaps you feel mentally exhausted, perhaps you haven’t had a sick day or a vacation in years.

2. The clients at the other end of pets' leashes are arguing over every medical recommendation and bill for service. The best way to keep clients from burning up the last of your patience is to:

A: Cut repetitive complaints short by telling clients "Our policy is … "

B: Keep things calm, and ask for help.

C: When a client approaches with an upset look, judge what the problem will be and start explaining—anticipating the problem should head off conflict.

3. The late nights or jam-packed schedules are slowly boiling away your will to work. It's time to:

A: Work less hard while you're on the job to balance out all the hours you're putting in.

B: Complain to and with other co-workers to ease the tension.

C: Tell your boss you're overwhelmed.

4. If you're sick and tired of your co-workers, the best way to deal is:

A: Suck it up and ignore the issue.

B: Confront the people annoying you.

C: Vent to a co-worker who understands.

5. You like the practice, but you're bored to tears by your job. To make a change, you'll need to:

A: Talk to your boss about new duties or a new position.

B: Learn new skills or take some classes.

C: Quit.