Enhancing leadership capacity

In the last few years, there has been growing pressure on our industry as a result of the global shortage of veterinarians and rising stress associated with poor work-life balance, student loan debt, compassion fatigue, burnout, mental illness, and a rising suicide rate. At the same time, and perhaps conversely, the veterinary nursing community has been developing and connecting. While we still have some of the same challenges as our veterinary colleagues, we have developed. We have established a strong voice in the industry, enhanced our professionalism, and reinforced our invaluable contribution to the veterinary workforce. It's a fertile field that is ready for transformation.

In human medicine, nurses comprise more than half of the healthcare workforce, and this certainly should be similar in the veterinary industry. The human healthcare system is supported by a multi-disciplinary care team, including physicians, nurses, nurse assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives, anaesthetists, radiographers, and the like. More importantly, physicians aren't seen as the only team members who can lead healthcare delivery systems. In fact, nurses are leaders in many of these areas, especially in resource-limited areas. They are at the frontlines, involved in research, evidence-based care decisions, quality improvement, and policy development.