I QUIT my DREAM JOB as a Veterinarian | BellaVet

This is why I #quit my #dreamjob as a #veterinarian.
Not One More Vet is focused on well being, mental health, and crisis intervention in the veterinary community:

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[SRKanai]

I too am a veterinarian and I have quit that job as of the end of last month after over 20 years. I am a boarded criticalist (DACVECC). I am tired of the corporate model that is taking over veterinary medicine and I am no longer able to give my clients and patients the honest care and advice that I believe in due to having to bow down to corporate interests over that of the animals. I have also known 6 veterinarians that have committed suicide for many reasons. I am finding that I am having an identity crisis, in that I'm not sure what I am if I'm not a doctor anymore. Anyway, I just wanted to say, thank you for sharing your journey. Much love and respect. All the best.

[generalpumpernickel]

Thank you for your video and sharing your journey. My sister in law was an ER vet and took her life 5 months ago. Thank you for shedding light on the mental health struggles in the industry. A lot of people don't realise what vets, vet nurses, vet tech, admin staff experience on a daily basis. We are no left with a massive hole in our hearts because the abuse and pressures took their toll. I wish you all the best in your new journey out of the ER. Stay safe and thank you for what you do ❤️

[orenaofer]

Hey there! What an important video for aspiring vets to see. Thanks for being so open and honest. I almost quit my residency and after taking some time off + meds + a great therapist + wonderful spouse, I'm back and going forward except that I now realize how important my mental health is both to me AND to my patients who walk, slither, crawl, fly or hop through the door! Keep us posted on your journey.

[KudosEwe]

I'm so sorry to hear this. You don't really ever hear this side of the industry. I appreciate your courage for sharing your story.

[JD-imkh]

I am a vet tech and working at the ER killed my spirit. I quit for years but I went back working in private practice. I’m learning to love it again

[Torgo]

Remembering what it was like in vet school during clinical rotations, having to stay up all night doing tech work, then back into clinics the next day, I will never forget struggling to just stay awake during the day. Forget about learning anything!
I would never want that for my work life. Give me boring general practice all day every day and I will continue to live a modest lifestyle until the day I die and I will be happy because my mental health and job satisfaction come first.

[paigewood]

YOU ARE AMAZING!!! So proud of you for putting yourself first and respecting your own boundaries. Facing your fears is amazing but you said it best, the absence of fear is not the same as happiness. You deserve to feel appreciated and respected in every sense. Love this video and appreciate your honesty and vulnerability!

[ellenpieper]

Hey girl, I have just found your videos :) Not only did I change my job, I changed my career (from working with human cancer patients to a veterinarian) and I relate so much to the struggle of accepting the change, and then also telling other people. Your mental health always comes first. I look forward to your videos in the future!

[adrianashilling]

Thanks for sharing this. One of my roommates who was 2 years ahead of me told me about 6 months into a very demanding internship that she had quit and was trying to decide if she wanted to be a vet or a street musician. I was fortunate that my first job the two partners were there when I needed help but let me have as much freedom as I thought I could handle. I think you’ll excel at client communication. You are a very poised young lady. Love your pooch showing concern when he/she detected stress in your voice.

[shirelly]

You are going to love general practice if the client connection was what you missed! Just as I know of a vet that struggled with talking to clients and is happier doing night shifts at a 24 hour clinic instead. Thank you so much for being open with us and showing us that, as you said, a work life balance is a requirement and not a luxury!

[macytroup]

Thank you for sharing this, I can’t imagine how hard of a decision that was to make, but I respect you for it. It’s awful how many vets kill themselves from the mental and emotional stress of their jobs; a vet I know had a fellow vet friend who recently committed suicide. I’m a HS student planning to become a veterinarian, and even though the exhaustion and extreme challenges of vet school are intimidating, I’m glad to know what I’m getting into.

[thujam]

Right there with you..watching the job I wanted since I was 5 and have been doing for 30 years now becoming the most difficult thing I have ever faced ..the pandemic demand is destroying our profession. I'm glad you are taking care of you.

[ashleykerwin]

I am so glad I found this video! I am in the middle of making the decision to switch my major from sociology to animal science to eventually become a vet tech and maybe a vet. I have felt guilt and shame thinking about switching from a major I have put so much time and effort into. But I know I will be happier (as someone who already struggles with mental health) working with patients and their owners than social work/advocacy. I feel like I’m leaving an opportunity to make a difference for the selfish reason of mental health. I keep reminding myself what I would say to a friend if they were in this situation. Thank you for giving me the confidence I needed to allow myself to make the switch ♥️

[allisongerfin]

This was beautifully honest. I worked in a shelter and at a clinic and have many rescue cats, so my vet and the staff are the most important professionals in my life. I am aware of the heartache and difficulties. My vet of many years just closed her practice to be an associate at another clinic because clients were getting outrageously nasty and good personnel was impossible to find and keep. It is devastating but understandable. When people have compassion for other people in addition to the animals, maybe life can be better for us all. 🙏

[hollykazel]

It’s better to find your boundaries now rather than later. You did the right thing.

[bluetickbeagles]

A lot of us can sympathize with you. It may not be in veterinary medicine, but many of us experience burnout and piss poor mentoring. I have experienced zero work-life balance and burnout the past year and a half and it’s miserable.
You made the absolute correct decision for making a change. Best wishes to you, future success and outstanding mentoring in your general practice position.

[allenrobinson]

Good for you for doing what you needed to do. I went through the same sort of thing about 12 years ago. The sleep issue caused my mental health to deteriorate to a point where I almost lost everything. I made the decision to move on, and a couple of years later a friend who hung in there committed suicide. I managed to stay away from corporate clinics because some experienced doctors warned me to be careful about getting in to that world. I'm in a great place now with family, work, travel, ect. Take care of yourself first. Hope your new spot is awesome. Love your videos. I have a therapist and am glad you do too.

[rw]

Thank you for this video. Truly. Very similar to you, I didn’t want to do an internship or specialize, and so my first job out of vet school was also in ER. I ended up getting let go within my probationary period due to not meeting the standard they expected at this busy ER clinic (without adequate mentorship to help get me to this point, as is unfortunately often the case in these settings, as you experienced, too), and I was devastated. I spent two months unemployed before eventually finding a general practice job (which I never thought I’d do!) at a clinic owned by, funny enough, my communication skills coach from vet school, and I’m coming up on 8 months here. Losing my first job turned out to be a massive blessing in disguise — not because my current clinic is perfect, but because, like you said, it’s BETTER. And that’s enough. I truly wish you all the best in your new job 💕

[Pathologymadesimple]

ER is easily the most attractive specialty but it is really hard and not for all.
Listening to what you said I feel you will love internal medicine😊
Your decision was correct. You listened to your feelings. Best wishes for your new job!

[kierawb]

This video is so true and important. I’m so glad that you’re feeling a lot better!❤️