Top 3 Tips: Breaking Bad News
There’s no one size fits all when it comes to breaking bad news in veterinary practice and, unfortunately, having difficult conversations about euthanasia come with the territory. We all recognise that they can be anxiety-provoking even for the most seasoned of veterinary professionals. VDS Training Consultant and vet Ruth Serlin offers up her three top tips to consider when facing those difficult conversations: Prepare yourself. These conversations are not easy and you need to take a breath, make sure you know the animal's name and sex and be sure you have the right owner's name. And then think about how you are going to prepare them for news that's coming. Ask what they already know and then consider a warning shot - 'I am afraid the blood results aren't good.' We all need time to process information, especially if it is bad news. There might be a lot of questions and doubts, or people might need time to process the news quietly. Make a space for them to do this – ‘It seems that you need a moment to sit with this. I will wait until you are ready for more questions or information. Take your time.’ Empathic communication can help the client manage grief. Show your client that you recognise this is a tough situation for them by acknowledging and validating their emotions – ‘Most people find this upsetting, you aren’t alone’. Offer your support – ‘I will do what I can to make this as comfortable as possible for you and Buster’ and follow through after euthanasia with gestures such as sympathy cards and ensuring the payment and collection of ashes is managed sensitively. Finally, look after yourself. Being involved in breaking bad news and the euthanasia of much loved pets can be challenging. Take a moment for yourself and get support from colleagues, friends and family. Vetlife is always there to help. Our NEW course Let's talk about... Breaking Bad News and Euthanasia, with Ruth, helps you to plan and prepare for difficult consults involving bad news and euthanasia, and provides the opportunity to practise communication strategies to empathetically manage these emotional situations. To book or find out more, visit the course event page.Tip 1 - Preparation
Tip 2 - Take your time
Tip 3 - Be empathetic
About VDS Training
VDS Training are passionate about developing all members of the veterinary team, to help you overcome the personal and professional challenges you face on a daily basis, and to build practical skills and techniques to make a real difference to you and your life.