VetX International Creates an Online Platform to Help Vets Flourish Amid Retention Crisis 

 

VetX International- a leading professional educational provider- has completely gutted and relaunched its site to address the growing wellbeing and retention crisis gripping the profession. 

The site, which formerly provided access to professional skill courses, now hosts a number of exclusive podcasts, articles, courses, and mentoring opportunities for veterinary professionals. 

The move has come amid rising concerns around retention within the profession. By giving free access to a number of resources and toolkits, the company hopes to help individuals struggling in the industry.  

In a statement, VetX International CEO Dr. Dave Nicol said:

‘Over the last three years we’ve trained more than a thousand vets, and what we’ve learned is that professionals who have a support network, a career plan, and acquire some foundational communication skills tend to rate their work highly, whereas those who do not struggle.’

Adding, ‘Our new site allows far better connection, support and growth opportunities than ever before. And the career content including the Thrive class is now 100% free to registered members.’

To register, click here.

Client Conflict Rife Amid Veterinary Practices

 

The veterinary profession is ‘under siege’ by abusive clients- at least, it is according to the news outlet VIN News. 

In an article, the publisher claimed that tensions related to waitlists and pricing had caused a spike in client-clinician conflict.

‘I’m sure it’s not just people in our industry who are having to deal with people’s frustrations’ said Dr. Stead, a veterinarian from Sore Paws Clinic.

‘But because we are dealing with exceptionally sensitive and emotionally charged scenarios, we are getting to the tipping point a lot sooner than most.’

For more on this story, click here.

Labor Shortage is So Severe That Practices Are Hiring Staff Without Checking Credentials- Claims Recruiter 

 

Veterinary shortages are so severe that desperate employers are hiring recruits without even interviewing them beforehand, claims a recruiter.  

In an article from Insider, the outlet stated that retention problems have been exacerbated by a surge in pet purchases and appointment requests. This has led some employers to resort to desperate measures. 

‘The minute we’ve got a vet with good experience, people are just saying, yeah, get them in for an interview today if you can’ said Justin Powlesland, director of JHP recruitment.

‘We had a client that we’d left a message for to say that we had a nurse available in their area,’ he said. 

‘They phoned straight back and said yes please can we book them,’ without even wanting to speak to the candidate beforehand.

For more on this story, click here.

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to End Remote Prescribing 

 

In what might be seen as a blow to telemedicine in the UK, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced this week that they will be ending the temporary dispensation of remote prescriptions. 

Remote prescriptions (which became commonplace during the COVID pandemic) have become particularly controversial within veterinary regulatory circles, as many fear that they are potentially putting patients at risk. 

The end date for remote prescriptions has been set for midnight on Sunday the 21st of November. This change comes only three weeks after the British Veterinary Association (BVA) warned the RCVS to reconsider its current stance on the issue. 

For more on this story, click here. 

RCVS Launches Sustainability Project 

 

The RCVS has launched its Practice Standard Scheme (PSS) sustainability project this week. 

The scheme was created after the RCVS environment and sustainability working party suggested that there were a number of things the organization could do to be more sustainable.

Sue Paterson, who chairs the environment and sustainability working party, said: 

‘Developing policies and standards that encourage sustainability across the profession is an incredibly important part of the college’s work. From our discussions with the profession, we know that many members of the veterinary workforce are keen to implement sustainable measures in their practices, but are unsure what processes to undertake to become more sustainable.’

‘We hope this project will help veterinary practices to manage their environmental impact in a way that is both manageable but extremely effective.’

For more on this story, click here. 

How The Australian Veterinary Association is Tackling Mental Health 

 

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has announced a mental health partnership with SuperFriend. SuperFriend specializes in designing workplace mental health initiatives.

The two organizations have agreed to come up with a plan to help improve veterinary wellbeing. This strategy will include a ‘research stage’, which will involve interviewing thousands of vets on the ground. 

In a statement, AVA president Dr. Warwick Vale said:

‘We are dealing with an extremely complex issue, so we have been acutely aware that the success of any wellness strategy developed would be reliant upon the input of as many voices as possible from within our profession.’

‘The overwhelming response we have had from all corners of the veterinary community will help us to produce a strategy with the power to create the positive, meaningful, and sustainable change we so desperately need.’

For more on this story, click here. 

How Practicing Mindfulness Can Benefit Both Your Brain And Your Business 

 

Practicing mindfulness can be great for both employees and employers. For one, it helps rewire the brain to better deal with stress and anxiety. It also helps us make more rational decisions at work when the pressure is piling on. 

But the reality is that many people don’t use these strategies until they are already in some sort of mental health crisis. Being proactive in managing our mental health, therefore, can prevent big (and sometimes expensive) interventions from occurring. 

‘Meditation is a gym for your mind’ Dr. Addie Wootten, CEO of Smiling Mind, told Smart Company. 

‘And the more you do it, the more mindful you become, and the more it becomes second nature to be mindful in everyday life.’

‘Don’t wait until you are experiencing problems before starting to look after your mental health. It’s so important that we’re proactive.’

For more on this story, click here.