NVA Compassion-First Podcast

In our next podcast, Dr. Lund interviews Dr. David Leopold, Network Medical Director at Hackensack Meridian Integrative Health & Medicine, on COVID-19 Fatigue. In the podcast, they discuss... COVID-19 fatigue: What is it, what is looks like and how can we cope with it. Stress management: Causes and practical ways to reduce stress. How sleep and diet affect your mental health. What is integrative medicine and how to implement it into your daily life? Importance of mediation, exercise, and self-care. The podcast also includes helpful tips and resources (linked below) for managing COVID-19 Fatigue and reminds all veterinary professionals that you are not alone with combating mental health issues.

In our latest podcast, Stacy Burdick, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Chief of Staff at Red Bank Veterinary Hospitals and Clinical Advisor for NVA Compassion-First, interviews two key members of NVA Compassion-First veterinary nursing development programs: Janet McConnell, CVT, Director of Veterinary Nursing Development (VND) and Karen Norton, CVT, Clinical Training Manager of VND. In the podcast, they discuss... ✨ The importance of certified and trained veterinary nursing staff. ✨ Give a quick overview of our numerous VND programs. ✨ Announce details of an exciting new scholarship program. ✨ Highlight our new VT that holds a seat on our new Specialty Advisory Board. They also express their gratitude for veterinary technicians and assistants in honor of National Vet Tech and Assistant Week. We are honored to have such an extraordinary staff of technicians throughout the NVA Compassion-First network. They work so hard and have sacrificed so much during this unprecedented time, and we cannot thank them enough for all they do.

In our fourth podcast, Dr. Lund and Sarina discuss grief and bereavement in the veterinary industry. Like many things in life, practicing veterinary medicine isn’t all puppies and kittens. Because of euthanasia and the short life span of the patient, veterinarians and staff experience a stress unknown to other medical practitioners. This podcast discusses the unique problem veterinary professionals face and how to manage feelings of grief and bereavement. Dr. Lund and Sarina also discuss the difference between grief and bereavement, contributing factors to grief, signs to look for in yourself and in others, and how to address this topic with a co-worker or an employee.  NVA Compassion-First's Mental Health Awareness series is a four-part podcast promoting awareness and education about common mental health challenges in the veterinary industry. 

In our third podcast, Dr. Lund and Sarina discuss suicide awareness and prevention in the veterinary industry. According to the CDC, female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely and male veterinarians 2.1 times more likely to die from suicide when compared to the general population. There are many unique variables that contribute to suicidal thoughts that veterinary professionals have to manage that other healthcare workers may not such as – patients can’t communicate with them, euthanasia, criticism from pet parents about treatment and pricing since clients pay out of pocket, cyberbullying, and rising student loan debt. While there is never a single cause of suicide, the myriad of risk factors can add up. A survey of more than 11,000 U.S. veterinarians in 2014 found 9% had current serious psychological distress, 31% had experienced depressive episodes, and 17% had experienced suicidal ideation since leaving veterinary school. The podcast discusses these unique problems and how suicide has become a problem in the veterinary industry.  Dr. Lund and Sarina also discuss what are some contributing factors to this unfortunate reality, suicidal signs to look for in yourself and in others, and how to address this with a co-worker or an employee. The podcast also includes helpful tips and resources for managing suicidal thoughts and reminds all veterinary professionals that you are not alone with combating these mental health issues. This podcast is part of a Mental Health Series presented by NVA Compassion-First Pet Hospitals that promotes awareness and education about common mental health challenges in the veterinary industry. NVA Compassion-First VP of Veterinary Informatics, Dr. Elizabeth Lund, interviews veterinary counselor, Sarina Manifold, about three important topics: Compassion Fatigue, Suicide Awareness and Prevention, and Grief and Bereavement. The podcast series serves as a tool to inform listeners about each topic and then provide practical insights and solutions for any veterinary health professional.

May is Mental Health Awareness month and NVA Compassion-First is proud to offer a new podcast series created specifically for the veterinary industry. We hope this podcast series serves as a practical tool for veterinary professionals and can be used to improve their mental health and increase resiliency regardless of the situation they may be dealing with. In part 2 of our compassion fatigue discussion, NVA Compassion-First VP of Veterinary Informatics, Dr. Elizabeth Lund, interviews veterinary counselor, Sarina Manifold, on compassion fatigue prevention, self care techniques and how to identify compassion fatigue in others.