Pulse - April 2022 - 10

The Veterinary Social Worker
Will See You Now
By Marilyn Iturri
The mental and physical wellbeing
of veterinarians have long
been a subject of concern in the
profession.
Compassion fatigue, burnout, a
struggle for work-life balance, difficult
clients. Educational debt and
financial worries are also constant
stressors for many, and the
COVID-19 pandemic aggravated
all of these issues, particularly
in regard to clients struggling to
cope with changes in clinic routine
necessitated by prevention
protocols.
All these subjects and related ones have
been staples of veterinary conference presentations
for years. In the past few years
programs have been implemented to tackle
the problems directly.
Emblematic of the importance accorded to
these concerns, in 2017, the American Veterinary
Medical Association hired a leader in the
effort to improve the mental health and wellbeing
of veterinary professionals, Jennifer
Brandt, Ph.D. She now leads AVMA's member
wellness and diversity initiatives.
Among the efforts of education and
awareness, social workers who specialize
in working in the veterinary environment
are increasingly coming into their own.
" The mental health of veterinarians is
a very difficult field, " said Sandra Brackenridge,
LCSW, a consultant and educator
who is considered one of the pioneers of
veterinary social work. She was one of the
first to work in pet-facilitated therapy.
On her website, sbrackenridgelcsw.org,
Brackenridge defines veterinary social
10
work as that practiced " in a veterinary
clinic or other veterinary setting, which
acknowledges and addresses the humananimal
bond. Veterinary social workers
work with a clinic's human clients, allowing
veterinarians to better focus on treating
pets. Beyond this, [they] may provide
mediation and short-term counseling to
veterinary staff to address workplace stress
and compassion fatigue. "
" Veterinarians don't ever dream of doing
anything else from the age of 4 or 5, "
Brackenridge said. " They gear their entire
lives to working with animals, then when
they get there they become disillusioned.
They are yelled at, accused of caring only
about money, not animals.
" It's moral distress, " she said. " I think we
need to focus more on the moral distress
element than compassion fatigue. "
When a practitioner can't do anything
more for an animal or a client can't afford
recommended treatment, the patient is
often euthanized.
APRIL 2022
PULSE

http://www.sbrackenridgelcsw.org

Pulse - April 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pulse - April 2022

Pulse - April 2022
Chapter Meetings & Calendar
President’s Perspective
Pulsepoints
SCVMA Profile SCVMA Scholarship Winners
COVER FEATURE STORY The Veterinary Social Worker Will See You Now
Practical Pathology Panuveitis and Optic Neuritis in Cats
UC Davis Update UC Davis Cardiology Referrals Available in Southern California
Tools for Success Why Everyone is Flocking to House Call & Mobile Practice
Angel Fund Shiloh, Dog with EPI, Helped with Grant from Angel Fund
The RVT Illuminators in Uncertain Times
Industry Insights Busy as a Bee
Quick Reference 12 Unusual Ophthalmic Diseases: #10 Merle Ocular Dysgenesis
Digital Photography for Veterinarians #80: Exploring Botswana by Foot, Part 1
Resources
Disease Table
From the SCVMA Office
Pulse - April 2022 - Pulse - April 2022
Pulse - April 2022 - Cover2
Pulse - April 2022 - 1
Pulse - April 2022 - 2
Pulse - April 2022 - Chapter Meetings & Calendar
Pulse - April 2022 - President’s Perspective
Pulse - April 2022 - Pulsepoints
Pulse - April 2022 - 6
Pulse - April 2022 - 7
Pulse - April 2022 - SCVMA Profile SCVMA Scholarship Winners
Pulse - April 2022 - 9
Pulse - April 2022 - COVER FEATURE STORY The Veterinary Social Worker Will See You Now
Pulse - April 2022 - 11
Pulse - April 2022 - 12
Pulse - April 2022 - Practical Pathology Panuveitis and Optic Neuritis in Cats
Pulse - April 2022 - UC Davis Update UC Davis Cardiology Referrals Available in Southern California
Pulse - April 2022 - Tools for Success Why Everyone is Flocking to House Call & Mobile Practice
Pulse - April 2022 - 16
Pulse - April 2022 - Angel Fund Shiloh, Dog with EPI, Helped with Grant from Angel Fund
Pulse - April 2022 - The RVT Illuminators in Uncertain Times
Pulse - April 2022 - Industry Insights Busy as a Bee
Pulse - April 2022 - Quick Reference 12 Unusual Ophthalmic Diseases: #10 Merle Ocular Dysgenesis
Pulse - April 2022 - Digital Photography for Veterinarians #80: Exploring Botswana by Foot, Part 1
Pulse - April 2022 - 22
Pulse - April 2022 - 23
Pulse - April 2022 - 24
Pulse - April 2022 - Resources
Pulse - April 2022 - Disease Table
Pulse - April 2022 - 27
Pulse - April 2022 - 28
Pulse - April 2022 - 29
Pulse - April 2022 - 30
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Pulse - April 2022 - From the SCVMA Office
Pulse - April 2022 - Cover3
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