What stresses you out?

RE: What stresses you out?

Ben Ogden — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 17:03:49 GMT

People who seem unable/incapable/unwilling to just do their job!

"Thats not my job"

Yes it is

"Since when?"

Since you were hired and we all reviewed it in the practice meeting and agreed that is still (insert role)'s responsibility.

"Well I wasn't at the meeting"

You we're sent an email asking you to attend

"Well I was busy"

It's in the minutes

"What minutes?"

The minutes displayed on the staff noticeboard and emailed out to you

"Oh well I don't read those"

It's still your responsibility

"I don't think it is"

Uggh I give up!

RE: What stresses you out?

Robyn — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 11:32:31 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]

[quote user="Robyn "]

Unhappy staff (and the low mood/chronic complaining that comes with it, it drags everyone down)

[/quote]

yes it really does take everybody down -I don't think some people realise just how their mood affects everybody else. I am guilty of avoiding certain people at times because it wears me out

[/quote]

I'm definitely guilty of this too on busy days. I really don't have the spoons to deal with other people's mood sometimes!

RE: What stresses you out?

bumble bee — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:10:59 GMT

1) Lack of communication all round. People need to know what is going on in order for anything to run efficiently. 2) Mess. Especially other peoples. I loose count of the amount of times I clean up after the same person. 3)Vets who think nurses are Psychic.----- We are not!! 4)The client that makes everyone in reception aware that we are ripping them off!! 5) Being told no pay rise because our sales are down- We are not B&M!!!

RE: What stresses you out?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 19:58:27 GMT

[quote user="Robyn "]

Unhappy staff (and the low mood/chronic complaining that comes with it, it drags everyone down)

[/quote]

yes it really does take everybody down -I don't think some people realise just how their mood affects everybody else. I am guilty of avoiding certain people at times because it wears me out

RE: What stresses you out?

Robyn — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 11:17:58 GMT

1) Unhappy staff (and the low mood/chronic complaining that comes with it, it drags everyone down)

2) Anaesthesia (I'm good at it, but never again would be too soon!)

3) Being short-staffed

4) Lack of communication about costs!

RE: What stresses you out?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 20:41:46 GMT

and what stressed me today? people chucking job after job after job at me before I even had chance to complete the first task interspersed with

'theres the phone for you'

who is it?

don't know

did you ask?

to find its a rep/ sales bod/somebody wanting to change our energy supplier/internet provider/ somebody selling double glazing (yes I know!) - ie nobody I absolutely had to deal with that couldn't have been been dealt with by somebody else.

or every other phone call

I don't know I will just check with the nurse

just read the bloody notes - if a vet has asked for resee in 2 weeks then no they aren't going to be able to get a repeat of tablets that should have run out about a month previous. (ie dog hasn't been seen for about 6 weeks) I can't prescribe them so please don't ask me.

'can't find the tablets for Mr X '

have they been ordered?

'not sure'

can you check on the records?

'ok - they have been ordered but they aren't in dispensing box'

So I go to dispensing box and lo and behold tablets for Mr X

'Can you show me how to clean the endoscope?' (again) ie can you clean the endoscope for me

and to cap it all client strolls in with insurance form 'can you do this for me now - policy expires on Thursday and i'm not renewing so can you do it now so I can still get paid. Its ok I don't mind waiting for you to do it but I really need it done now'

Moi stressed - you bet I am.

www.youtube.com/watch

RE: What stresses you out?

jojofruits — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:15:27 GMT

[quote user="jimbomcgrimbo"]

3) Working with frantic people who get flustered easily and cannot make decisions

[/quote]

THIS!!!!

RE: What stresses you out?

jojofruits — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:14:06 GMT

1) Dealing with clients who have made no provision for the treatment of their animals but then blame you and get angry!

2)working with sociopaths.. I have done that twice in my career.. can spot 'em a mile off these days! no thanks!

3)Feeling like the animal isn't getting correct care for whatever reason.. too busy or not enough staff or whatever, can be different reasons in different places, thankfully not recently for me

4) the increasing amount of corporate paperwork and hoop jumping that seems to be going on, it's exhausting!

I do feel that many inexperienced staff are thrown in at the deep end in a lot of places and this must be an enormous cause of stress for them. I get a bit stressed if I'm in a new practice and cant find things, so cant imagine how they must feel! i think the good veterinary teams are those made of of kind and efficient people. The team makes all the difference!

RE: What stresses you out?

Katie Germany — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 20:08:35 GMT

Hmm....communication is a big one, not necessarily with colleagues but clients who withhold info /neglect to tell you important facts/ expect you to read minds.

Unexpected events like emergencies and equipment failures add pressure to the team.

I am quite a weird person who likes stress on the job in a way, adrenaline rush or something?! xx

RE: What stresses you out?

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:56:50 GMT

1) Mess. I HATE working in a messy environment

2) Dealing with stupid people - the 'anti science' people, people who have let their animal become really poorly before seeking veterinary attention etc.

3) Working with frantic people who get flustered easily and cannot make decisions

RE: What stresses you out?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 18:37:27 GMT

1) working with people who obviously don't want to be there (even the clients have noticed)

2) finishing off half done jobs which then impacts on the time I have available to do what I need to do

3) lack of communication as to who has/hasn't done what and agreed deadlines

4) people wandering around discussing and re discussing stuff to the nth degree and getting nowhere instead of getting on with it and then wondering why there is a last minute rush to get things done - bit like Brexit really .

My favourite is 'if we had x .....' (which is generally another variation on something we do have) well we don't have it so either rebook until we do or manage with what we have or a locum who is there for a very limited time saying 'don't like these I want a box of these instead' - it just isn't going to happen

5) insurance forms and dealing with clients peed off that the insurance didn't pay out

6) not enough hours in the day

I used to dread reception but if you take into account that a high percentage of the problems will start at the front desk if you can find a way of making reception work for you it is possible to prevent a lot of the flack further down the line.

I don't love reception, there are times when you just want to bang your head against a very solid wall, but its a lot easier for me to do it than having somebody else on there that has made it obvious they just can't be bothered and sorting out the mess afterwards. (damage limitation)

Taking a day off through illness is actually quite a big thing for me - 1) because I feel like I have let people down a 2) realising that I am wearing out

RE: What stresses you out?

Chris Peters — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 18:36:15 GMT

By far the most stressfull thing that effects me is disorganisation. When you have a really long ops list and things are not ready for the next procedure or if certain staff members do not have the insight to get things done.

This used to be such a massive problem at my old practice that i literally had a mental breakdown because i was the only one (or seemed to be) who thought ahead. I have now moved to another practice and a lot happier.

RE: What stresses you out?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:56:19 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]The biggest one for me today was being ill so not going into work.[/quote]

Bad luck old fruit. Get well soon.

What are the most stressful things when you ARE well, ie every other day except today

RE: What stresses you out?

Sal the 1st — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:38:38 GMT

The biggest one for me today was being ill so not going into work. I have a stack of things that needed doing so tomorrow will have to really pull my finger out to try and catch up. I rarely take a day off for illness but whatever variety of lurgi this one is has floored me, apart from sorting out both cats and trips to the loo I have only just got out of bed

RE: What stresses you out?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:00:36 GMT

[quote user="enigmaticat-uk"]1) Reception work (it's that awful combination of so busy it's stressful and boring when it's quiet!)

2) Nurse consults fill me with dread - thankfully we don't do these much at my practice.

3) Working with a difficult colleague - thankfully not a current issue but definitely causes stress.

4) I worry a lot when my opposite number is on holiday as it makes us very short-staffed & worry I can't get everything done. I sleep very badly during these times.[/quote]

Interesting!

Surprised by 1 & 2, as would have thought part of the job, and interested to know if that is a common feeling.

I was expecting someone to say 3).

And as for 4) ... could I describe that in one word as: overload?

(although perhaps it would be better to differentiate between overload caused by being short-staffed, and overload caused by combination of work / home pressures).

RE: What stresses you out?

enigmaticat-uk — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:28:32 GMT

I'm very much an introvert so for me personally

1) Reception work (it's that awful combination of so busy it's stressful and boring when it's quiet!)

2) Nurse consults fill me with dread - thankfully we don't do these much at my practice.

3) Working with a difficult colleague - thankfully not a current issue but definitely causes stress.

4) I worry a lot when my opposite number is on holiday as it makes us very short-staffed & worry I can't get everything done. I sleep very badly during these times.