Veterinarians navigating and overcoming challenges in clinical practice: a collaborative narrative inquiry

Abstract

Veterinarians experience significant mental health challenges, and much of the research on veterinarians’ mental health has focused on poor mental health outcomes rather than veterinarians’ resilience or strengths. This study explored the process of overcoming challenges in clinical practice. Individual interviews were conducted with 11 early to mid-career veterinarians in Prince Edward Island, Canada, who provided a total of 30 stories of overcoming a difficult event or hardship. We used a collaborative, structural, narrative inquiry methodology to refine and analyse the data through narrative reconstructions, follow-up interviews, and observations. Five macro-threads were identified in analysis: (1) internal strengths, (2) healing through human connection, (3) helping myself change for the better, (4) reconnecting with meaning as a veterinarian, and (5) faith and optimism. The findings highlighted elements of the process of overcoming challenging experiences in clinical practice that allowed participants to stay in their career, such as developing one’s identity, a belief in oneself, meaning, and relationships. The insights derived from this narrative inquiry have implications for veterinary education and clinical veterinarians, including the importance of providing environments and teaching skills that allow for a broader perspective of wellbeing, rather than a narrow focus on identifying stressors or improving technical skills.