The Perception of Time in Our Profession
Time is a curious thing, especially in the veterinary profession. How often do we pause during our ten-hour workdays to consider our progress and what we’ve achieved? By the end of the day, we might not even remember how many people and animals we’ve helped and interacted with, or the details of what happened. Was Charlie the dog or the cat? Did they have the corneal ulcer or the UTI?
Day-to-day life in the veterinary industry can be hectic, and over time, this can contribute to fatigue and mental health challenges. This article explores how we perceive time in a high-pressure environment and the potential effects on Patient Safety. It also offers strategies to make the most of our time at work and highlights the benefits of taking a break, both at work and outside of it.
Time Flies: Losing Track of Time
Time Perception: From Pressure to Purpose
In the fast-paced world of veterinary care, time often feels like an enemy. But what if we could shift our perception of time, turning it from a source of pressure into an opportunity for qualitative improvement? Whilst this may seem at odds with 15 or 20-minute consult slots, there’s value in slowing down, becoming more conscious of our actions, actively interacting with clients and seeing our work not just as a series of tasks, but as a form of care and nourishment for ourselves. Setting targets throughout the day that focus on good care of self as well as good patient care will help keep you focused and prevent overwhelm.
As our profession has a caregiving nature, it’s essential to first care for ourselves and our teams. If we don’t, we’re less able to truly help those who rely on us. We don’t need to be perfect machines that produce diagnoses; instead, we should strive to be natural and, crucially, to educate our clients about what they should expect from the process.
The Relativity of Time in Veterinary Practice
How long has this dog been under anesthesia? How long have we been unable to intubate for? How much time has passed as I try to take blood from this anxious cat? Every veterinary professional has experienced the relativity of time—where minutes stretch or shrink depending on the task at hand. As task-oriented individuals, we often focus on completing tasks at all costs, which can sometimes have catastrophic consequences for our patients.
Take the story of Elaine Bromiley as an example. She went into the hospital for a routine sinus operation and during anaesthetic induction, major complications arose. Her airway obstructed and the team was unable to gain a secure airway. For 20 minutes they attempted to achieve a stable airway, during which time her oxygen saturations were around 40%., Though she survived the initial crisis, Elaine suffered severe hypoxic brain injury and, 13 days later, her life support was turned off.
This tragedy highlights how time pressure and communication breakdowns can lead to fatal outcomes. Elaine's story demonstrates an opportunity for improvement via a Human Factors approach, including the use of systems and processes and fostering psychological safety in the workplace, to prevent these kinds of incidents.
Efficiency of Time
In a time-pressured environment like veterinary practice, systems and processes are key to improving efficiency and reducing errors. Tools such as checklists, safety protocols, and structured handovers are invaluable—although often viewed as an extra burden when first introduced.
Despite being a piece of paper, checklists are so much more. They are simple, easy to follow, and evidence based tools that can significantly improve team coordination. They ensure that a large group of staff can work together smoothly, even under pressure, while keeping adverse event rates low.
According to the WHO checklists study, in 2010 in hospitals in both high and lower income settings in eight cities around the world: "Analysis shows that the rate of major complications following surgery fell from 11% in the baseline period to 7% after introduction of the checklist, a reduction of one third. Inpatient deaths following major operations fell by more than 40% (from 1.5% to 0.8%).”
Checklists and similar tools turn autonomy into heteronomy
While autonomy requires individuals to make their own decisions, the collective nature of veterinary work demands a more structured approach. We all experience unreliable memory recall and limited attention spans, especially in stressful, complex environments where multiple tasks must be managed simultaneously. This reality increases the risk of overlooking critical details, potentially leading to serious consequences.
Moreover, when managing large volumes of tasks - such as the reality of the prep-room: Four inpatients, an animal under general anaesthetic, and members of staff looking for guidance in three different tasks- it's easy to omit basic but crucial safety steps. Even highly experienced professionals are prone to making mistakes. In fact, their expertise might make them more likely to overlook details, believing they can handle any situation. Heteronomy, through tools like checklists, helps to account for human limitations by providing external guidance. Though checklists may initially seem monotonous, patronising and time-consuming, they ultimately save time by providing a clear strategy, assigning specific roles and improving team collaboration.. These tools have been found to enhance efficiency, reducing the likelihood of mistakes that could require significant time to correct—or worse, be irreversible.
How to Escape Time (using Human Factors tools)
How often do you feel the need to step away, take a break, and reboot your system? In the fast-paced world of veterinary care, we have all experienced the feeling that time cannot wait. While we can’t always control the flow of time, we can change how we approach it.
Consider the concept of HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired). While these states seem straightforward, it can be easy to ignore them. The instinct to achieve our goals often outweighs the logical need to stay hydrated, take breaks, or address stress. This can contribute to a workplace culture of “pushing on regardless”, and is compounded when teams witness leaders or colleagues skip their breaks. But recognising these needs, communicating them, and taking a break is crucial. It is absolutely okay to pause and recharge.
Time Off Work
We can't operate at 100% all the time. It's important to accept that it's perfectly fine to enjoy down-time when you’re off the clock. Rest is a valuable tool and essential to our wellbeing and performance. Our brains are highly adaptable, and while they might struggle to slow down after a high-paced day at work, neuroplasticity allows us to retrain our minds to truly relax. Whatever relaxation means to you—whether it's reading a book, taking a walk, or simply doing nothing—it’s vital to embrace it without guilt. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to spend your time.
Help your team use their time ‘well’ – make wellbeing a priority
VetLed’s HALT resources are a great way to promote wellbeing within your team - with posters and other tools to act as reminders and conversation starters. If you’re interested in implementing HALT, but daunted by the task of changing a well-established workplace culture of ‘just getting on with it,’ let VetLed support you to create the change you’d like to see. Browse our veterinary team training workshops, including wellbeing and culture topics, book an in-practice workshop on Human Factors foundations to help get your team on board, or use a practice observation day to find the best areas to focus.
Comments