For pet lovers, a career in veterinary medicine can be incredibly fulfilling. But it also has become increasingly demanding as a surge in pet ownership during the pandemic has professionals working harder than ever to provide quality care for millions of new pet owners.
Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 92% of respondents ranked increasing levels of stress among their top mental health challenges, with 88% of respondents citing student debt and depressive thoughts as leading stressors. The increase in pet adoption has added to the many stressors veterinarians face, such as:
- Emotional and physical stress: In addition to caring for pets, veterinarians experience high emotional stress from having difficult conversations about unfortunate health outcomes and diagnoses.
- Administrative burdens: The tight labor market has made it difficult for veterinary practices to recruit and retain support staff. The high employee turnover disrupts workflows, increases operational inefficiencies and decreases productivity.
- Financial pressures: New veterinarians graduate with sizable student loans. The average veterinary-school debt in 2020 for borrowers was $188,853, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
At Pet Paradise and New Day Veterinary Care, we are dedicated to creating a vibrant, healthy culture to remove the pain points that lead to career burnout in our industry. Each day, we strive to bring about change by providing an environment that recognizes the importance of work-life balance, empowers veterinarians to provide the best care possible (no minimum visits per day), and encourages teamwork and a sense of community. Here are a handful of ways we are doing that:
- We are flexible and listen to our veterinarians: Listening helps us understand what our veterinarians need to succeed. We pivot quickly to provide resources or enhance policies and procedures so they can continue to provide superior care.
- We leverage new technology: Maximizing the use of innovative new technology improves pet diagnoses, enhances patient communication and increases productivity. Our veterinarians have access to best-in-class technology at our full-service clinics so they can spend more time with their clients and their pets.
- Our pet perk means less stress: Our veterinarians and support staff are encouraged to bring their pets to work so they can visit them in the play yards during the day (where they get exercise and fresh air).
- We offer generous benefits and perks: In addition to a competitive salary, we provide top-tier benefits, including a generous student loan repayment assistance program and quarterly profit-sharing opportunities.
- We are growing: The 25th New Day location opened in the Summer of 2022 and, with more locations on the horizon, we will continue to provide superior pet care from Phoenix, Arizona, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and beyond.
Our mission at Pet Paradise and New Day Veterinary Care is to enhance the quality of life for pets, our customers and team members by providing exceptional pet care, outstanding customer experience, and a fulfilling work environment. If you are in search of a meaningful career with a healthy work-life balance, explore our career offerings.
We look forward to hearing from you.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Dr. Jaime Pickett is the chief veterinary officer & senior vice president of NewDay Veterinary Care at Pet Paradise
