Episode 65: Fostering a sustainable profession

It’s no secret the pandemic brought an influx of new patients to veterinary clinics worldwide. With the skyrocketing demand for animal health services, many professionals are left shouldering the signs of burnout and stress. According to Nick Nelson, DVM, MBA, president of BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospital, the silver lining of this is that the growing need for veterinary care has urged practice's to prioritize their team members' mental health and uplift them to develop a sustainable environment.

On this episode of the Vet Blast Podcast, Nelson joined Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to offer insight on what sustainability in the profession entails, plus a few strategies on how to nourish a healthy workplace.

“What I mean by sustainability is a profession that people want to enter and stay in. Not just say, 'Well I love animals,' but enter it for the right reasons [such as] this profession gives me a livelihood, it gives me the intangible side, it fills my bucket for what I do every day, and it allows me to have a sustainable life," said Nelson.

Additionally, he offered pointers on fostering a desirable work environment while enhancing the practice.

“I think what we have to do to [encourage] sustainability is to continue to take care of the pets we love, the people that bring in those pets that we’re so committed to, [but] we must take a step back and not just be about them, we must be about our people. In order to take care of pets, we need to see it from the lens of our associates," Nelson advised.

“So how do we focus on [our associates] and their needs? Supporting our associates’ well-being and livelihoods through things like career pathways, advancement opportunities and skill development and compensation, [this will] bring that autotomy and fulfillment to the individual, it will elevate the standard of care, it brings value to our profession of veterinary medicine," he continued.

Listen to the full episode below for more tips on curating a sustainable environment in veterinary practices.