More individuals and organizations are realizing how crucial practitioner well-being is in veterinary medicine. In the last year, there's been a +209% increase in social content talking about burnout in veterinary medicine.

And, that's likely not surprising to you. It feels like everytime you scroll there's someone talking about it, whether it's Galaxy Vet's Veterinary Burnout Report that made waves last year or organizations like Not One More Vet talking about the risk of burnout in veterinary professionals.

Even when you google "Veterinary Burnout," there's almost 9 million results, even though there are only about 133,000 veterinarians in the U.S. today.

But we wanted to dig deeper, below the surface-level topic, and really understand what contributes to burnout and if it could actually be "fixed."

Modern Animal went deep into social listening data and found three key insights we can take away:

What the social data revealedThe question it raises
47% of content about burnout proposes self-care as a way to balance a veterinary career with personal life.Can self-care effectively prevent burnout?
The veterinary landscape is currently focused on burnout, which is an outcome.What actually causes burnout?
Veterinary professionals need a framework to assess and become aware of the factors that impact their satisfaction in both their work and personal lives.What factors should they keep in mind when making decisions?

Can self-care effectively prevent burnout?

Although burnout is typically an individual experience, solutions often miss addressing other parts of the system. There is a growing body of evidence, both in the broader health context and within veterinary medicine, that points to systemic factors contributing to burnout.

"The idea that self-care is the solution to burnout would be laughable, were the topic and its implications not so serious. The 'solution' to burnout is to eradicate its triggers by reframing the entire job in ways not previously imagined in veterinary medicine: by redesigning the way we care for patients, train our teams, build our workflows, and manage the expectations of our clients."
Dr. Christie Long, Chief Medical Officer (Founding Team), Modern Animal

While making self-care a top priority in preventing burnout is crucial, it's equally vital to understand the broader forces that may either support or hinder self-care practices. The truth is, no level of self-care can fully compensate for factors beyond an individual's control.

"One of the reasons veterinarians are flocking to relief practice is because it gives them the kind of control over their schedule that they haven't been able to achieve with full or part time employment. They can titrate the workload to meet their needs whether these relate to family responsibilities, personal or professional growth, financial goals, or leisure activities."
Dr. Cindy Trice, Chief Veterinary Officer, Hound; Founder, Relief Rover

What actually causes burnout?

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has identified four key forces that influence satisfaction levels of veterinary professionals:

1. Job (Micro): Their day-to-day experience (hours, scheduling, team, client interactions, etc.).

2. Industry (Macro): Support in navigating industry-wide challenges and outdated systems.

3. Compensation: Though part of the job, this is measured separately due to rising debt-to-income ratios.

4. Lifestyle: The mental and physical capacity to enjoy personal life (work-life balance).

The 2023 AVMA Report on the Economic State of the Veterinary Profession measured these forces individually and identified the highest levels of dissatisfaction at the industry level. These challenges include long working hours, emotional demands, compassion fatigue, daily interruptions, technology issues, and staffing shortages.

What factors should veterinary professionals keep in mind when making decisions?

Drawing from research, three primary categories emerge for evaluation:

1. Personal Factors: Personal capacity, enrichment, rest, reward, and meaning.

2. Work Responsibilities: Clarity, capacity, relationships, autonomy, and utilization.

3. Leadership: Values alignment, psychological safety, integrity, feedback culture, and communication.

Key Takeaways

  • Well-being is a shared responsibility between individuals and organizations.
  • Knowing what affects your emotions helps highlight what matters for your well-being.
  • Assessing job satisfaction and well-being involves a deep dive into personal factors, work responsibilities, and leadership.