Shame doesn’t help us. It hurts us. Brene Brown has spent her career studying the impact of shame on individuals, and she’s found it is associated with isolation, paralysis, and a fixed mindset. Shame shuts down our hope that we can do better. It is the belief that we are bad, and we cannot change […]
I would be lying if I tried to pretend boundary setting was an easy skill to learn. I actually found it more challenging than most of my professional, clinical training! Here were my biggest struggles while learning. I’ve seen these same struggles play out in colleagues, so I wanted you to know you will not […]
Kristina Kiefer Our Book Rounds topic this month was on Burnout. I learned quite a bit, in spite of the fact that I’ve been on a personal mission to avoid burnout even prior to vet school. I considered myself high risk. I get bored easily. I am an all or nothing personality. I get socially […]
Kristina Kiefer This has been haunting me for a while. I’d love your input on it, as I think many minds are needed to solve this problem. Here’s the case summary: Daisy is presented to you for ADR (ain’t doing right). The family is very concerned, because she just isn’t herself. She’s been a member […]
Thoughts from a veterinarian with a love affair with perfectionism Kristina Kiefer This month’s Book Rounds book, Better, by Atul Gawande, is inspiring and motivating to be the very best that we can be- for our clients, patients, team and ourselves. That should be reasonable, given I get uncomfortable if things aren’t perfect, right? Within a few […]
Kristina Kiefer If you resonated with the book discussed in this month’s book rounds, “Is Work Killing You?” by David Mosen, MD, you have probably asked this question more than once. And if you are reading this, you probably haven’t decided. It can be a very complicated decision. Long story short, only you can decide […]
Kristina Kiefer Imposter syndrome. That feeling of not deserving the position you are in sucks. It can quite literally keep you from moving forward. But you know what’s worse? When your secret beliefs of being an “imposter” are confirmed. You failed that test. You didn’t match to a residency. You got a review that identifies […]
Kristina Kiefer “I need help, please.” This is one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn as a veterinarian. It’s taken monumental work, but it’s paid enormous dividends. And from what I’ve witnessed, it seems to be a skill that our profession really struggles with. It’s another one of those features I believe we […]
Kristina Kiefer Colleagues: do you remember taking the veterinary oath? Can you remember what you swore? Veterinary students: have you looked ahead, and read the oath? You are committed to the long road, which commits you to taking this oath. What does it mean to you when you say “I solemnly swear that I will […]
