In this episode of The Business of Practice podcast, I discuss how veterinarians can recognize burnout and shared research about its manifestations and causes.
Researchers Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter define burnout as “a psychological syndrome emerging as a prolonged response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job.”
The central symptom of burnout is profound physical, cognitive, and emotional fatigue that undermines your ability to work effectively and feel positive about your job. It can stem from the demands of an always-on, 24/7 organizational culture, intense time pressure, or simply having too much to do, especially when you lack control over your work, dislike it, or don’t have the necessary skills to accomplish it. When you experience this exhaustion, you are unable to concentrate or see the big picture; even routine and previously enjoyable tasks can be too much, and your tank is simply empty.
“Burnout has been recognized for many years as an occupational hazard for various people-oriented professions, such as human services, education, and health care,” wrote Maslach and Leiter in their article Understanding the Burnout Experience. “The therapeutic or service relationships that such providers develop with recipients require an ongoing and intense level of personal, emotional contact. Although such relationships can be rewarding and engaging, they can also be quite stressful. Within such occupations, the prevailing norms are to be selfless and put others’ needs first; to work long hours and do whatever it takes to help a client or patient or student; to go the extra mile and to give one’s all.”
Maslach and Leiter’s research identified six areas of work life that are implicated in burnout:
- Excessive workload.
- Lack of choices or control.
- Insufficient reward and recognition.
- Lack of belonging to a community.
- Unfairness or favoritism.
- Lack of shared values.
These conditions are common in equine practice, especially affecting interns and early-career associates. In the podcast, I discuss each of these factors and explain how practices can make changes to minimize them.
After sharing my own story about experiencing burnout, I talk about ways that practices and individuals can both prevent and recover from burnout. The biggest roadblock is our failure to take a break when we are suffering. We often feel like taking a break is being weak, like we can’t cut it or that we have no choice. But there is always a choice.
Equine veterinarians make such a difference in the lives of horses and their owners. Remember that your work and your life are both so important.
About Dr. Amy Grice
Amy Grice, VMD, MBA, received her BA in biology from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and completed her veterinary education at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. She earned her MBA with a concentration in Ethical Leadership from Marist College School of Management in 2014.
Grice was an ambulatory equine practitioner in the Hudson Valley of New York for over 25 years, serving as the managing partner of the 13-doctor equine referral hospital in Rhinebeck, New York. At the end of 2014, she retired from clinical practice to concentrate on veterinary business consulting and moved her residence to Virginia City, Montana.
Grice is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, where she served on the Board of Directors from 2015-2018 and as treasurer from 2021-2023. She has also servedas a member of the AVMA Economic Strategy Committee since 2018. Grice is a frequent speaker at educational seminars for veterinarians across the country, as well as the founder of Decade One, which offers networking groups for equine veterinarians early in their careers. In addition, she consults with a diverse range of veterinary businesses and collaborates with industry partners to bring business education to veterinarians. Grice aids with transitions of ownership, strategic planning, financial projections, and other solutions for private practitioners.
Related Reading
- Business Briefs: Implementing Lasting Change in Your Practice
- Early Career Insights: Making a Four-Day Workweek Work for You
- Veterinary Wellness Briefs: Mental Health Resources for Veterinarians
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