6 Benefits of Having a Vet Mentor

Having a good vet mentor is key to succeeding in the transition to veterinary practice. As a researcher of early career veterinary well-being, I frequently hear mentorship mentioned by new and recent veterinary graduates as extremely important. Bad mentorship can have negative effects on wellbeing, but a good vet mentor will empower early career veterinarians to become the best vets they can be. There are numerous benefits of having a vet mentor in the early veterinary career.

What is a vet mentor?

A vet mentor is a formal or informal relationship with another veterinarian that provides mutual benefits to both the mentor and the mentee. An excellent vet mentor will be a good listener, be willing and available to answer questions, and will have empathy for struggles that a new graduate may be experiencing. A vet mentor can help a recent veterinary graduate with both clinical and non-clinical questions regarding veterinary medicine.

Where can I find a vet mentor?

To find a vet mentor, you can ask a veterinarian within your practice to be your mentor, or you can seek mentorship through a veterinary mentorship program. The MentorVet program offers mentorship matching with a highly qualified vet mentor to assist you in the transition to practice. This virtual mentorship program will allow you to connect with your mentor regardless of where you are located. You can also check out these tips for finding an amazing vet mentor.

6 Benefits of Having a Vet Mentor

1. Increased Confidence in Medical Skills

By having an experienced veterinarian in the practice to consult with on cases, you will soon realize that you know more than you think. Veterinary schools equip new and recent veterinary graduates with a huge amount of medical knowledge! 

A good vet mentor will be able to help you apply the knowledge that you have learned in school to your work in practice. They may be able to teach you new surgical or medical procedures. By having an experienced vet mentor to assist you, your confidence in your medical skills will likely increase.

2. Improve Your Client Communication Skills

When I started my veterinary career, I remember commonly consulting with my vet mentor about difficult client communications. A good vet mentor will have experience and feel confident with their own communication skills. Often, they will be able to give you guidance on how to interact with difficult clients thus improving your own communication skills.

3. Combatting Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is extremely common within the veterinary profession, and one study found that over two-thirds of veterinarians had imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is essentially feeling like you are a fraud, or you doubt your own abilities as a veterinarian. If you are feeling imposter syndrome, it may feel like you don’t belong in the veterinary profession.

Veterinary perfectionism may also contribute to feelings of imposter syndrome especially if things don’t go according to plan or unrealistic expectations are set. A good vet mentor will empower you to feel like you belong within the profession and remind you that every veterinarian makes mistakes. Often, the best vet mentors will also share that they experience feelings of imposter syndrome occasionally.

4. Promoting Wellbeing

A good vet mentor will frequently check in with how you are doing. They can provide support and guidance if you are experiencing feelings of compassion fatigue, veterinary burnout, or stress. A good vet mentor will help connect you to the resources that you need to stay happy and healthy within the profession.

In the MentorVet veterinary mentorship program, the average stress, burnout, and wellbeing levels for veterinarians participating in the program improved over time. Vet mentorship has the potential to improve your overall wellbeing.

5. Improved Ethical Decision Making

Ethical dilemmas are extremely common within the veterinary profession and are one of the main contributing factors to stress within the veterinary profession. One study found that around half of vets reported that ethical dilemmas were one of the major contributors to their stress levels.

If you are faced with an ethical dilemma, it can be challenging to operate in the gray. A good vet mentor can help you work through these tough cases, and help you problem-solve. Often, the vet mentor will have experienced a similar ethical dilemma and can help you find the best solution for the pet and the pet owner.

6. Improved Conflict Management Skills

Conflict is pervasive in veterinary medicine. There can be conflict among staff, co-workers, or with clients. As a recent veterinary graduate, you may not have much experience navigating conflict. A good vet mentor has had extensive experience navigating conflict, so they should be able to give you tips and techniques to improve your conflict management skills.

Conclusion

There are many benefits to having a vet mentor. It is important to note that to have a good mentoring relationship, you must be proactive about seeking help. Especially when you are first starting practice, there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you are unable to find a vet mentor in your current practice, consider seeking external veterinary mentorship opportunities. The MentorVet program can pair you with an outstanding vet mentor that can support you in your early career.