Lessons from "Reality" Vets

There seems to be an ever-growing obsession with veterinary reality shows on television.  In my mind it all started with "Emergency Vets" back in the 90s, which was a show that focused on Alameda East Veterinary Hospital where the medicine was cutting edge.  Now, there are so many shows with veterinarians working everywhere from Alaska to Hawaii to Houston, with varying levels of veterinary medical care. There are even some wacky veterinary characters that have become admired in spite of their less than conventional medical practises.  I am a fan of some of these shows because they allow the pet loving public to get a glimpse --albeit not always an accurate glimpse -- into the “reality” that is our veterinary world.

As I watch the variety of veterinarians showcased on these shows I am reminded of the huge job that we do each day and the challenge of treating a wide variety of patients and conditions.  I see the tremendous capacity that veterinarians have to persevere when the going gets tough.  It is one of our most admirable qualities.  It is the thing that keeps us from running out the door on any given day after we face a treatment failure or nasty case.

Perseverance is “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”. 

Perseverance is something that we needed to get through our difficult schooling and something that we possess each day in order to do the best job for our patients, clients and families. So how do we continue to develop this skill in and out of our work environment?  How do we further develop our capacity to persevere?

Formulate strong goals.  In order to push through to a conclusion of success, you have to have a clear goal in mind.  It may be something as simple as cleaning off your desk or as complex as getting through a successful surgery. You have to start with an end in mind. 

Make up your mind. Have a strong will or intention to achieve your stated goal. You cannot persevere if your mind is weak, so decide up front that you will not fail or if you do hit a bump in the road, you will continue to try.

Hold on to optimism.  If your brain thinks the goal is too lofty or wants to think negatively about it, you are less likely to follow through.  Think optimistic thoughts and you will be more likely to push through when things look grim.

Stay focused on the present.  It will not help you to dwell on your past problems or your future fears.  If you stay focused on each step you will be less likely to give up if things look down.   You will have a higher capacity to get each thing done and will feel less overwhelmed.  With each step, acknowledge your accomplishments or small successes then focus on the next step in the process.

All of us can learn to develop our tenacity and increase our ability to push through when the going gets tough.   When obstacles get in your way and discouragement threatens your optimism, think of the grit and strength that brought you where you are today and carry on. Learn a lesson from those “reality show vets” and get the job done before the "hour" is over.

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” Newt Gingrich

Dr. Julie Cappel