Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mosser, RVT, MPA, discuss a tough and often uncomfortable topic: what to do when a new hire isn't cutting it in your veterinary clinic. Whether handling animals, interacting with clients, or managing information, some employees struggle to meet the demands of the job.  Dr. Ward and Beckie explore the signs that an employee may not have the necessary skills, the potential impacts on your practice, and, most importantly, how to address these issues professionally and effectively. They discuss strategies for providing support, offering training, and, when necessary, making the difficult decision to part ways. Tune in for practical advice on navigating this tricky situation to maintain a high-performing veterinary team. If you enjoy our podcast, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. Your support helps us connect with more veterinary colleagues. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Please share your thoughts with us on Facebook or Instagram at @VeterinaryViewfinder or VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com. #veterinary #veterinarytechnician #veterinary #podcast #veterinarypodcast #vettechpodcast #vetpodcast

Self-care is crucial for a thriving veterinary career, yet everyday challenges often hinder our pursuit of well-being. This week on the Veterinary Viewfinder, we delve into some of the most common reasons people fail to adhere to self-care practices: too little time, money, and ability to do it. Our special return guest is  Rebecca Newman, a certified veterinary technician and well-being expert. Rebecca shares strategies to overcome self-imposed barriers, helping you kickstart your wellness journey. Join Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mosser, RVT, MPA, as they explore practical tips for achieving a balanced, healthy life in the demanding world of veterinary medicine. Viewfinders, we’re excited to welcome back Rebecca Newman, AAS, BA, Psy.M, CVT, who is the Assistant Director/Wellbeing Coordinator, Veterinary Technology at Appalachian State University Veterinary Technology program. To learn more about her work, visit here: https://rri.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/rebecca-newman-aas-bs-ms-cvt If you enjoy our podcast, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. Your support helps us connect with more veterinary colleagues. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

This week, our hosts travel to the annual American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) convention in Austin, Texas. Discover the heated debates and critical updates on veterinary medical ethics arising from the AVMA’s House of Delegates approval of a recently revised Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (PVME). Join hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Becky Mosser, MPA, RVT, as they delve into some of the changes to the PVME that they believe will affect many veterinary professionals. Our duo starts by discussing the newly-introduced ethical usage by veterinarians of the term “veterinary technician,” some significant changes to the ethical definition of “evidence-based medicine,” why the omission of a single one matters to them, and the controversial topic of animal depopulation and ventilation shutdown (VSD+) receives an ethical okay from the AVMA HOD. Viewfinders, we hope these conversations continue to propel our profession forward. We want to thank our colleagues at the AVMA Executive Board and HOD for their work, regardless of their opinions, and welcome the opportunity to share different perspectives on the issues that affect the veterinary profession. If you enjoy our podcast, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform. Your support helps us connect with more veterinary colleagues! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Please share them with us on Facebook or Instagram at @VeterinaryViewfinder or VeterinaryViewfinder@gmail.com. To read the revised AVMA PVME, click here: https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/2024S_Resolution8_PVME_attch-1.pdf 🎤🐶😺🎤👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️🩺🎙️🐶😺👨‍⚕️👩‍⚕️🩺🎙️ #veterinary #veterinarytechnician #veterinary #podcast #veterinarypodcast #vettechpodcast #vetpodcast

“Acting your wage” is the latest social media, well, TikTok, trend to hit the US workplace. Gen Z’ers have taken “quiet quitting” and defined it in their terms. Bonus, there’s also taking a “workcation” popping up on feeds everywhere. Viewfinders, you don’t want to miss this one! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, explore what “act your wage” means for veterinary practices, the root causes of these issues, and changes you can make in your management and leadership styles to help. Viewfinders, these trends are primarily in response to chronic low wages and benefits, poor or toxic workplace cultures, and managers more focused on profits than people. There’s a lot to discuss on this topic, and we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com or drop us a DM on our socials. While you’re at it, please click on the Apple Podcasts link and drop us a 5-star to keep our little podcast growing! Thanks, and we’ll talk to you next week!

Have you ever worked in a veterinary clinic that split vaccine dosages? What about recommending half-dose heartworm or flea preventives? Ever stray so far off label that you felt uncomfortable? If you’ve ever encountered one of these dilemmas, you don’t want to miss this episode! (Although you may need to turn the volume down, so your boss doesn’t hear.) Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, share real-life stories of vet practices that may have pushed a little too far beyond the scientific and moral boundaries of veterinary care. Importantly, the pair discuss the impact of observing these uncomfortable acts on our mental health and physical well-being. In fact, they speculate these “tiny tensions” are a major contributor to veterinary burnout. Our hosts offer practical, although potentially painful, advice for anyone seeking to “stand up against” a questionable clinic protocol or practice. Viewfinders, this is yet another good discussion of a complex - and confounding - problem in veterinary medicine. It’s a good one!

With the fall veterinary CE season ramping up, we thought we’d discuss what to wear and how to act at CE events. Yes, we had to go there. Listen and you’ll learn why. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share some of their tales of attire and attitudes at the scores of vet med events they’ve attended. From flip flops and tank tops, to feet propped up on chairs, to lecture hall Candy Crush marathons, our duo dish on some of the more interesting personal choices they’ve observed, and why it matters. Viewfinders, this conversation is about much more than the clothes we wear at CE events. It’s about our attitudes and behaviors and getting the most out of our precious educational opportunities. This is an episode you really need to listen to before you comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts on what to wear (or not) to CE and what behaviors you think are a distraction (or helpful!). Thanks for listening!

Feedback: everyone needs it to improve. But what happens when we get unexpected negative feedback? How can veterinary professionals separate “context from content” and learn the valuable lessons nearly any form of feedback offers? For a “profession of perfectionists,” there’s a lot to discuss in this episode! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT, start by defining what valid feedback looks like in veterinary practice. From there, they review why nearly any form of feedback can be beneficial for your professional (and perhaps personal) growth, why your network is essential in evaluating feedback, and how to remain in control, even when you don’t like what, or how, feedback is being delivered. Viewfinders, there’s a lot to consider in this podcast that transcends “feedback.” We’d love to hear your thoughts! And we’d appreciate you giving us feedback over on Apple Podcasts by pressing the 5-stars! Your review really helps us reach more of our colleagues!

“Quiet quitting” has gone viral. This week we examine what “quiet quitting” really means, how it’s actually been around for a long time (thank you, Gen Xers), and how you can learn from this workplace trend. In our 300th consecutive weekly episode (!), hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the latest Gen Z TikTok trend of “quiet quitting.” The pair explain how this applies to veterinary professionals, and why this may be a healthy movement. Dr. Ward reminds the Viewfinders that, “You are not defined by how many hours you work.” He shares why establishing healthy boundaries between work and personal life are essential for a long - and satisfying - career in veterinary medicine. (And he’s been doing this for over 30 years.) Beckie examines the workplace pressures many veterinary professionals feel if they “take time for themselves” and how many clinics may be reinforcing toxic relationships with work by “texting you at 2 a.m. to ask about work" and then getting upset if you don't respond immediately. Someone needed to hear that... Viewfinders, thank you for allowing us to get to 300 podcasts! Back in 2016 when we started, we could not imagine how much we’d grow and how much fun we’d be having! Share this podcast with a colleague who needs to hear it and don’t forget to head over to Apple Podcasts and give us a 5-star review so we can reach more veterinary professionals! Email: veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com

Many of us see things that need changing or improving nearly every day. Sadly, few of us take action to make those changes or improvements. Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) recognized that Arizona veterinary technicians didn’t have an organization, so she and two others decided to make that change! This week, we learn how you can help the AZVTA and steps you can take to make changes in your world! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT are thrilled to introduce you to Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS, the current President of the brand new Arizona Veterinary Technician Association (azvta.org). She’s part of a growing movement of licensed veterinary technicians who are establishing protections and promoting better standards of veterinary care around the US. Regardless of where you live, this episode is both inspiring and pragmatic for making change. We need more folks like Stefanie, President-Elect Jennifer Serling, CVT, RVT, VTES, AAS, BVSc (Go App State!), and Vice President Katie Foust, CVT! Bravo! If you’re interested in learning more about the AZVTA, visit them at azvta.org.

What’s the latest news on the unionization movement in US veterinary clinics? What is a union and how can forming them help veterinary professionals preserve the best aspects of their jobs while improving many of the worst conditions? This week we welcome back vet tech extraordinaire Liz Hughston MEd, RVT, CVT, LVT, LMVT, VTS (SAIM) (ECC) to share the latest developments on veterinary professionals’ unionization. Viewfinders, hold on to your seat…this is one fast-paced ride! Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore the reasons why unions make sense in veterinary practice, why the continued expansion of corporate practice ownership makes them even more important, and the steps you can take if you’re interested in forming a union in your place of work. Beckie and Liz detour into what (or not) vet med organizations such as the AVMA and NAVTA should be doing (or not) when it comes to educating veterinary professionals about collective bargaining. Our trio also discusses what information is (and isn’t) being shared with our colleagues from our professional groups. They also offer advice on how our associations and agencies can be more transparent and inclusive when it comes to offering a variety of opinions and strategies for change. Viewfinders, this is another impactful conversation that covers a lot of essential topics. Share your thoughts with us on our social media challenge or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com For more information on veterinary unions, check out these links: http://www.natvpu.org/ https://www.instagram.com/nvpunion/ https://www.facebook.com/NationalVeterinaryProfessionalsUnion communications@natvpu.org