Idiopathic Issues

A 2017 study conducted by the Workplace Bullying Institute found that 19% of Americans have experienced bullying at work^.(1) While you may think of bullying as something that only affects school-age kids, the reality is that this behavior can continue throughout adulthood. In the workplace, this bullying is often characterized by “repeated mistreatment” or “abusive contact” and can be associated with supervisors or coworkers.

Unfortunately, veterinary practices are not immune to bullying and this behavior can affect both vets and vet students. In fact, bullying appears to occur with above-average frequency in veterinary clinics and other medical settings!

HOW TO MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM

Working with vet techs as a new grad is a fine balance. Just a short time earlier, you worked alongside them as a technician or assistant… and now you’re suddenly the doctor. This is a big adjustment and can take some care to navigate.

Do you ever experience stress as a vet student?

Do you expect to experience stress as a new grad veterinarian?

If you answer honestly, I suspect your answer to both of those questions is “yes.” You might even be looking for a way to incorporate stress reduction into your life, but it can sometimes be difficult to set aside time for involved, time-intensive stress-reduction practices like yoga classes or meditation retreats.

Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy approach, known as mindfulness, that has been proven to help reduce stress and anxiety... even in vet students!