Welcome to Dr. R's Insights
Within these blogs, you’ll find Dr. R’s advice, strategies, and stories on coping with the unique stressors of veterinary work and finding joy in your practice.
Blog: Coping with the Unique Stressors of Veterinary Work
Every career carries some kind of stress, but there are certain workplace conditions in veterinary practice that turn clinics into crucibles capable of pushing staff to their absolute limits of empathy and endurance.
If there is one thing I hear the most from young veterinarian students or recent graduates, it’s this.
“No one told me it would be this hard.”
It’s painful when the pressures you face begin to dampen your first love, the passion for animals that drove you to this career to begin with.
It’s even more painful when you carry the stress home after work and begin to see it affecting the people around you…
Blog: Maintaining Focus and Performance in High-Pressure Situations
Veterinary professionals often lose focus in high-pressure situations, from exam rooms to surgical procedures, due to the constant barrage of stressful events. This can lead to freezing up, losing access to critical information, and even lashing out at colleagues.
The Power of Pacing® technique helps maintain focus by recognizing the three-step process of Events, Triggers, and Reactions. By redirecting reactions, replacing negative mental scripts, repairing stress's physical effects, and refocusing on the task at hand, veterinary professionals can take back control of their day.
This simple, repeatable technique allows individuals to pace themselves through high-pressure situations, maintain composure, and rediscover the joy that brought them to veterinary medicine in the first place.
Blog: Navigating Client Interactions: Beyond Veterinary School Training
Veterinary school doesn't fully prepare you for the unique stressors of clinical practice, from anxious owners to delivering bad news. In these tense situations, it's common to "freeze up" as stress takes over, making it hard to think clearly or remember protocols.
But here’s the good news. It doesn’t have to be this way. Learn the techniques of The Power of Pacing® to remain calm and focused amidst the stress. Dr. R. teaches you to recognize what's happening, redirect your reaction, replace negative mental scripts, repair stress's physical effects, and refocus.
Blog: Achieving Work-Life Balance in Veterinary Practice
Work-life balance in veterinary medicine is challenging due to relentless stressors like upset owners, aggressive patients, and emotional cases. These pressures, compounded by busy schedules, can lead to anxiety and burnout, affecting both professional and personal life.
The Power of Pacing® offers a solution. This technique helps veterinarians manage stress by teaching them to recognize stress triggers, redirect reactions, replace negative scripts, repair physical effects, and refocus on tasks. It's a practical, repeatable method that supports mental discipline and emotional well-being, allowing veterinarians to thrive in their careers.
You're not alone, and there are options to help you find balance and joy in your work.
Blog: What's Happening to My Veterinary Staff? The Missing Piece in Supporting Your Staff’s Well-Being
Veterinary practice owners often observe early-career veterinarians struggling to cope with the clinical environment, despite having excellent qualifications. The root cause is often a lack of preparation for the stressful realities of practice, including difficult client interactions and high-pressure situations.
The Power of Pacing® technique addresses this issue by teaching veterinarians to manage stress through a five-step process: Recognize, Redirect, Replace, Repair, and Refocus. This simple, repeatable technique helps break the cycle of stress that can lead to burnout and poor performance.
By implementing this approach, veterinary practices can provide crucial support to their staff, helping them navigate the challenges of the profession and thrive in their careers. It's a vital missing piece in supporting veterinary staff well-being and performance.
Blog: Becoming a Resilient Leader in Veterinary Medicine
Early-career veterinarians face intense daily stressors that weren't covered in veterinary school - from confrontational clients to aggressive patients to workplace conflicts. These repeated stressful events can trigger powerful emotional and physical reactions, making it difficult to maintain leadership presence.
The Power of Pacing® technique offers a solution through a five-step process: Recognize, Redirect, Replace, Repair, and Refocus. This repeatable technique helps veterinarians manage their reactions to stress, maintain composure, and develop resilience as leaders.