Listen Here:

Rachel Golden is a veterinary professional of 15 years, spending the last 11 at VCA where she is the hospital manager. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Rachel on and off the air and we both have a big passion for the field. Rachel joins me in this episode to tackle a big question in the industry. Why are veterinary professionals not only leaving their jobs but leaving the field at an alarming rate?

Pre-COVID, the veterinary industry was already on edge. Overworked, bursting with burnout and compassion fatigue, the pandemic only made the pressure worse and gave way to a major shift in employee mentality. No longer are our employees putting up with extensive expectations for no work-life balance, working while sick, taking up slack for under trained coworkers, and all of the other woes of the industry. And should they have to?

Hospital culture was suffering pre-pandemic and even more so now. With professionals leaving and the employee pool getting smaller and smaller, hospitals are forced to hire inexperienced and untrained staff. Leading to major gaps in knowledge and skills between veteran and new employees. So as a hospital manager or practice owner, what can you do about it?

When looking at this conundrum, it seems there’s no time for training, there’s no time for professional development, there’s no time for staff bonding and hospital culture. Rachel really dives into the intricacies of scheduling time for employee training and culture. It almost seems to be a lose-lose. Employees are either forced in early or out late for meetings, the day is cut short and work piles up, and the hospital is losing revenue for paying employees during closed hours.

These might seem like impossible barriers. But Rachel stresses the need for this time in veterinary hospitals now more than ever. Look at creating robust training procedures and hospital culture organisms as an investment. Not only in your employees but in your practice. Make the time, spend the money. You will make it up tenfold in employee retention alone.

Employees deserve to be trained, to work among knowledgeable co-workers, to have their time respected, and to work within a happy hospital. Use your voice. Make the time.

If you’d like to get in contact with Rachel Golden, you can find her on LinkedIn or reach her via email.

Would You Like To Be Featured in Our Podcast?
Join Our Mailing List!

What’s Inside

  • Why is the veterinary profession losing employees at an alarming rate?
  • How has employee culture shifted post pandemic?
  • How the massive knowledge and skill gap is jading employees old and new.
  • How to find the time for important training and investment in employees?
  • How to retain employees in the veterinary profession.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Listen to the podcast on your favorite player:

Enjoy the podcast? Share!

Follow Crystal Stokes

About Crystal Stokes
About Crystal Stokes
#067: Get MotiVETed with Renee Machel

#067: Get MotiVETed with Renee Machel

It’s time to Get MotiVETed! Listen as I talk with founder of Get MotiVETed, Renee Machel. She shares everything GMU has to offer from coaching to self paced courses. You can feel the passion from Renee as we discuss this incredible support component for the vet med community.

#066: Take Control Of Your Career with Steve Oehley

#066: Take Control Of Your Career with Steve Oehley

You can have a rewarding career in vet med in or out of the clinic! Steve Oehley shares his story of burnout to fulfillment. Now, Next Step Vet helps others through personalized strategies based on their strengths. He explains the top three points of his 12 week coaching process and shares tips for how any individual can find renewed professional fulfillment, navigate challenges and build sustainable, rewarding careers.

#063: Navigating Euthanasia with Dr. Pam Johnson

#063: Navigating Euthanasia with Dr. Pam Johnson

Euthanasia is a deeply sad reality of the day-to-day of veterinary care. With 30 years of veterinary experience, Dr. Pam Johnson has started a new consulting business, Veterinary Mastermind. She talks with us about the important topic of Euthanasia and how vets can help themselves and their clients navigate the grief of these difficult decisions.




No, thank you. I do not want.
100% secure your website.
Powered by