tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post2373661296364385249..comments2023-10-01T10:50:05.348-04:00Comments on The Homeless Parrot: At the risk of alienating my readers...The Homeless Parrothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566801733035183569noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-92153237406619644302011-04-11T11:13:15.536-04:002011-04-11T11:13:15.536-04:00I've been away and am just catching up on the ...I've been away and am just catching up on the blogs I follow . . . I'm sorry you're feeling burned out, it's a huge hazard for anyone dealing with constant crises and the powerful emotions of others. I hope you're able to find some time for yourself and try out the good advice of those who care about you. However, remember that you DO make a difference and clients like me and my pets need doctors like you. VVVetVoyeurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08104637568459610116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-59016094368611621172011-04-04T17:43:12.483-04:002011-04-04T17:43:12.483-04:00Find a way to deal with the stress before it swall...Find a way to deal with the stress before it swallows you. <br />Last week my Vet who I dearly love left the practice after 20 yrs. It is a large general practice that does their own ER 24/7. She just had enough and needs a change in her life. I am going to miss her but I wish only the best for her.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13744354426654131900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-57488290593223800092011-04-04T16:50:45.766-04:002011-04-04T16:50:45.766-04:00Dr. Parrot,
I'm sorry to hear of your stress ...Dr. Parrot,<br /><br />I'm sorry to hear of your stress and discouragement regarding your current job. I've been a nurse for a long time and suffered from various episodes of burnout. I have a "calling" to be a nurse since a very young age, and fortunately, there are lots of options as a nurse and I've been able to change jobs to keep my sanity and my current position is perfect. I also do volunteer mission work to keep things in perspective. But I never tell nurse-hopefuls to pick another profession and it is disheartening to hear the advice Anonymous 1 gave you. Of course you must do what's best for you and your family but know there are lots of people who admire and appreciate what you (Dr. Parrot and "you" veterinarians in general) do for our beloved pets. Perhaps some GP days of healthy puppies and kittens is what you need. Or working with students... I find youthful enthusiasm for one's profession is always an "upper". <br /><br />So how can we, veterinary clients help keep our vets happy in their work? Besides taking good care of our pets, taking the advice of trained veterinary professionals, saying "thank you" and paying our bills? A good vet to work "with" in the care of my dogs is priceless and I hate to think he's also feeling discouraged....The Nursenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-17967105699064198012011-04-04T16:24:40.805-04:002011-04-04T16:24:40.805-04:00If it helps to know it, I did the same thing durin...If it helps to know it, I did the same thing during my 3rd year of practice. I left that practice during the 4th year. I was convinced that I had chosen the wrong career and would have to scramble to find something else to do with my degree. My saving grace was relief work. It enabled me to visit MANY different practices and observe MANY different ways of handling patients, clients, new drugs/protocols, etc. And the beauty of it was....at the end of the day, I walked away. I had a paycheck in my hand and though curious of outcomes, remained free of interhospital problems and dramas. I had only to enforce each hospital's policy and say...I'm sorry, I'm filling in and these are the rules I must follow. <br />This is also a GREAT way to shop around for your next more permanent job...as you find out a LOT from the staff of each and other surrounding hospitals. <br />I started relief four years ago and fell back in love with veterinary medicine. Perhaps this could be the answer for you and give you the flexible schedule that a parent needs?C. Todd Dolen, DVMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04996028272552833090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-11885465303794524472011-04-04T10:04:40.457-04:002011-04-04T10:04:40.457-04:00I can totally see how this is dispiriting. It alm...I can totally see how this is dispiriting. It almost seems like ER should be done by vets in a rotation of maybe one month a couple of times a year, so nobody would have to deal with the stress nonstop.<br /><br />Sending you good thoughts, virtual tea, and smiles for the baby Parakeet. *G*Lisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-63099946036141334552011-04-03T20:56:50.653-04:002011-04-03T20:56:50.653-04:00it is all rather bleak right now, isn't it? t...it is all rather bleak right now, isn't it? the hormones are part of it, the upcoming arrival of baby and all the accompanying role shifts for you and your husband are a HUGE stress. any kind of emergency work where life and death decisions are involved is stressful, too. so, it makes sense that your stressors are off the chart and the choices seems so limited. you'll get through it, we all do. just look at one bit at a time and don't fret too much about the stuff you can't change. babies don't require much stuff, no matter what the advertisers tell you! rest as much as you can, get some sunshine every day, and realize that it won't always feel this way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-78258892885582992822011-04-03T19:01:58.452-04:002011-04-03T19:01:58.452-04:00I suspect many of your readers follow you because ...I suspect many of your readers follow you <b>because</b> you are so human--I know I do. My hope is that you will not give up on veterinary medicine. I hope that when you come back from maternity leave, you find yourself a well-managed general practice and give it a try. I believe in starting with AAHA-accredited hospitals. That's how I landed at my job--and I've been there ever since I graduated 7 years ago! I really, really love it, and wish everyone could experience the positive side of veterinary medicine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-1819051365909954502011-04-03T18:53:58.326-04:002011-04-03T18:53:58.326-04:00You have a tough job. Try to be as kind to yourse...You have a tough job. Try to be as kind to yourself as you are to your patients.Pamelahttp://www.thefinsters.com/flog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-71216596332993043932011-04-03T14:39:32.771-04:002011-04-03T14:39:32.771-04:00Oh gosh, I am sorry to hear of your burnout. It d...Oh gosh, I am sorry to hear of your burnout. It definitely sucks when you know you can help an animal but the owners can't (or won't) pay for it. I think being in the ER is the worst for that, since so many people simply don't plan for or recognize an emergency, and then it's too late. It probably doesn't help, but I read human ER blogs too and it's pretty much the same situation with burnout--medicaideurs abusing the system for pregnancy tests, addicts trying to scam for narcotics, very few actual "emergencies" and more abuse from patients than thanks. <br /><br />Any way you could fill in every so often at a general practice somewhere? Just for the sake of being able to do wellness exams, puppies and kittens, and basic vomiting/diarrhea stuff? I've only been reading your blog for a little while, so I don't know if it's an option, but it's much more gratifying seeing regular patients with the occasional "OMG!!" emergency than seeing ALL "OMG!!" emergencies.<br /><br />I dunno if any of that helps. I'm sorry about your frustration (and congrats on the baby Parrot!). I'm one of those possibly naive hopefuls (someday...) thinking about vet school, but coming up against my poor undergrad grades in stuff like, oh, I dunno, organic chem. So to hear about the "other side" of the profession, while saddening, is also helpful.<br /><br />Can you get a massage and take a nap? That's all I can come up with for being helpful. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-58391778712861225472011-04-03T11:49:39.032-04:002011-04-03T11:49:39.032-04:00I don't know how the vet stress feels, but the...I don't know how the vet stress feels, but the financial stress I understand completely. I can't even fathom going through both and being pregnant too. I'll be thinking about you and I hope things get better for you soon.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01277595900814334191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212251348411401170.post-65974519355027997232011-04-03T09:38:44.710-04:002011-04-03T09:38:44.710-04:00Look, I've been there. It's taken me more...Look, I've been there. It's taken me more than three years to climb out of the burnout hole, and I live for the day when I find another job and can close my practice forever. Unfortunately, many other veterinarians have the same idea right now, so there is more competition for non-practice jobs.<br /><br />You're at a turning point: re-trench, talk to mentors, and learn effective coping skills, or make a plan and get out forever.<br /><br />Don't allow your job to suck the joy out of you, especially not while you're on the threshold of a happy new chapter of your life. Veterinary medicine isn't worth it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com