Video: The new work-life balance

Those who enter the veterinary field do so enthusiastically and with great commitment. However, the demanding and often unpredictable workload of the profession can be trying on new team members and veterans alike. In fact, 43 percent of respondents to the 2010 Veterinary Economics State of the Industry survey indicated that long hours were a source of stress. And of the 45 percent of respondents who reported no desire to own a practice in the future, three out of four cited an aversion to the prospect of how much personal time ownership would devour.

So where does the industry stand? Veterinarians Micaela Shaughnessy, Nancy Soares, and Michael Andrews weigh in on the dynamic state of work-life balance.

Micaela Shaughnessy, VMD, a relief veterinarian in Alexandria, Va., has seen a dramatic change in work-life balance. She points to the high percentage of female veterinary school graduates as a driving force in changing the landscape of the industry..