b'EMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE, ACHIEVE AND LEAD TOGETHEREMPOWERED TO INSPIRE,VETERINARY WOMAN CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGEACHIEVE & LEAD TOGETHERfor their patients is the best feeling. Its like pointing out anbelief in meit boggles my mind! Through coaching sessions additional, secret colour in the rainbow. When others see it,and personal development plans, my colleague Samantha and embrace it in their approach to individual animals, itsLympany-Tier has helped me to thrive and challenge myself. just the most wholesome feeling. The patients benefit beyondOur Pharmacy Lead, Sara Benton, has been an unending source measure. They have heightened control, experience reducedof encouragement, and for these people I am immensely fear and stress, are safeguarded against such things as learnedgrateful! I have been inspired by so many of my colleagues and helplessness and, ultimately, our clients are happier becausemy patients. their pets are happier. No one loses.What is the best advice youve been given, or thatWhat motivated you to want to change things? you would give to someone else, about drivingI care about each and every one of my patients and colleagues.positive change?Where I see room for improvement, I step upbecausePlease never stop believing in better! Be the person, be the change is possible, and we all deserve change for the better.change, because you are so capable and so valuable! VCAs, I have seen colleagues suffer physical and mental traumayou are such a crucial part of the veterinary team; never let resulting from a lack of protective behaviour protocols.anyone tell you otherwise. Sometimes what we do and what Though I struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, Iwe give goes unseen. But always remember how much you refuse to allow such things to recur, so if no one else will takehelp your patients, your clients and your colleagues. Advocate the helm, so be it - it might as well be me!for yourself and your team. Advocate for animals who may Bess (19 year old, fluff bum)I aim to be the VCA Mentor I would have wanted at the startbe misunderstood, whose fear and behavioural responses of my career path. I was motivated to make the role a realitymay lead them to be maligned as naughty, as nasty, or as a lost cause. Education and empowerment are your allies when it comes to altering perceptions of behaviour and patient care. Try a different angle, share the small wins (and the big Helping others to understand principlesones!) with your team, and foster a trustworthy, inclusive of behaviour and body language and thenenvironment.watching them stand up and advocate for theirWhat are your next steps to continue creating change for patients is the best feeling.the better?I cant wait to finish implementing our new protective behaviour protocols and see what impact this has. We have by the wonderful people that came to me and said: Hey, thispassionate members from all departments weighing in, suits you. My colleagues told me I was their go-to for help, forbringing their knowledge and insight. I hope to see fewer bite a hug, for encouragement, for reinforcement, for the simpleincidents, boosted confidence and more patient-centric care. but valuable top-ups on various protocols and how-tos. I neverHopefully, I will secure dog-friendly clinic accreditation for our imagined that person would be me, but I strive to be thatpractice, and one day I hope to become a FearFree TMcertified person for them. and ISFM cat-friendly professional. What has most helped and motivated you along Visiting a veterinary clinic may always be a stressful experience the way? for our animals, but there are steps we can take to reduce I cannot overstate how much I appreciate my cheerleadersthose feelings of fear and distress and make our jobs easier in and my colleagues, some of whom have shown such incrediblethe process. Whats not to love about that? www.veterinarywoman.co.uk 36'