Ep 217: Setting Boundaries for Work-Life Balance in Veterinary Medicine, with Dr. Moriah McCauley

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of "So You're a Vet… Now What?" Dr. Moriah McCauley discusses the importance of managing your schedule effectively to leave work on time. She shares five tips to help veterinarians avoid consistently working late hours and offers practical advice for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Tune in to learn how to improve time management and make your veterinary practice more efficient.Arriving early to your shifts is crucial for veterinarians to prepare for the day ahead and handle any urgent tasks before appointments start. In the podcast episode, Dr. Moriah emphasizes the importance of coming in 30-40 minutes before the appointments begin. This early arrival allows veterinarians to go through tasks, deal with urgent matters, make necessary calls, and address any fires that may arise before the appointments start.By arriving early, veterinarians can have a moment of control before the day gets busy. This time can be used for personal tasks, such as grabbing a cup of coffee, doing rounds, and checking in with the team to ensure everyone is prepared for the day. It also provides an opportunity to set the tone for the day, ensuring a smooth start and proactive handling of any unexpected situations.Furthermore, being early to the shift allows veterinarians to mentally prepare for the day ahead. It gives them a chance to review the schedule, anticipate the types of appointments they will have, and strategize on how to approach each case effectively. This proactive approach can help veterinarians feel more confident and organized as they start seeing patients.Effective communication with your team, especially your veterinary assistant, is essential for streamlining workflow, enhancing patient care, and creating a positive work environment in a veterinary practice. By fostering open communication, collaboration, and mutual support, veterinary professionals can work together seamlessly to provide the best possible care for their patients and clients.Episode Outline[00:01:21] Leaving on time in vet practice.[00:05:37] Scheduling for new veterinary graduates.[00:09:30] Setting up for success.[00:12:50] Working effectively as a team.[00:14:38] Record keeping in veterinary medicine.[00:17:25] Clinically relevant cases.Episode LinksSee more from Dr. Moriah: https://www.instagram.com/dr.moriah.mccauley/Mentioned in this episode:So You're a Vet, Now What? - The CourseAre you a new or recent veterinary graduate? If so, Dr. Dave’s course, ‘So You’re a Vet… Now What?’ has been put together specifically for you. The course focuses on non-clinical skills. This is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, almost every career problem that people face is due to not having well-developed, non-clinical skills. These are skills like client communication, so you have great relationships with clients. Emotional intelligence, so you've got great relationships with your teammates. Effective negotiation skills, so you can get paid what you are worth. Management of imposter syndrome, so you can have confidence in your abilities. And, how to build formidable resilience, so you can handle everything that comes your way. These are not just skills. They are prerequisites vital for success and financial and emotional wellbeing. This course serves as an essential stepping stone to your success. Dr. Dave will be your mentor as you go through 12-modules, helping you transition from being a student to a fully rounded veterinary professional. Visit www.drdavenicol.com/syav-class to learn more.