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  • 1.  Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 08-25-2022 01:10 PM
    Updated 8/29/22 at 2:22pm -- Recording is now available to watch on-demand! Be sure to enter to win a grant by completing this entry form each time you attend or watch the recording: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-aug22-giveaway.htm

    Views expressed on the Maddie’s® Community Conversations are not endorsed by Maddie’s Fund.

    We hope you will join us for the next Community Conversation on Monday, August 29 at 11am PT for a very important discussion on fatigue that animal well-being professionals experience daily from working with people and pets in our communities.

    We will be joined by Dr. Taylor Miller from Not One More Vet who will be presenting on, "Fatigue in All Its Flavors: Decision Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, & Ethical/Moral Fatigue".  Compassion fatigue is a hot topic in the veterinary world, but it falls short in explaining the career fatigue rampant in our profession. Or rather, it may represent a kind of end-stage fatigue. If this is the case, we need to intervene, recognize, and address all the stages and manifestations of fatigue that precede it. This presentation discusses and differentiates between ethical or moral fatigue, decision fatigue, and compassion fatigue to round out our understanding of these factors that so impact our mental health. By increasing awareness and providing more nuanced metrics for self-monitoring, fatigue can be addressed more effectively and efficiently.

    About Not One More Vet (nomv.org)
    NOMV addresses wellbeing in veterinary medicine through multiple innovative and inclusive pathways including: evidence-based peer support; comprehensive programs providing leadership focused on wellness; grant programs providing financial support for individuals and clinics experiencing crisis; mentorship and best practices programs addressing mental health from educational institutions to the workplace; raising awareness of the status of mental health in the profession; and research to further the advancement of wellness, mental health, and the reduction of suicide in veterinary professionals.


    Register for the meeting here: https://maddies.fund/CommunityConversationsRegistration  and be sure to check back after the call for compassion fatigue and self-care resources for you and your team to utilize.


    #EducationandTraining
    #OrganizationalManagement
    #PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 08-29-2022 12:23 PM
    Hello all, 
    Thank you so much for having me today. I look forward to continuing our conversation here as caretaker fatigue is such a critical challenge to our mental health and wellbeing. I ran out of time to explain the resources I had listed on my final slide, so here goes: 


    If you have questions or comments you would prefer to address directly to me, please feel free to email me at tmiller@nomv.org. 

    Best wishes!
    Taylor Miller


    ------------------------------
    Taylor Miller
    Veterinarian
    NOMV
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 08-29-2022 02:47 PM
      |   view attached
    Thanks to the 266 attendees who joined us live on today's call! It was a pleasure to host along with @Renena McCaskill. The recording is now available to watch on demand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAM8TfpyXHg and this week is the last week to enter for the August Grant Giveaway!

    I've attached a copy of Dr. Miller's presentation slides for your reference and below is a full recap of the agenda and resources shared. If you have any questions for Dr. Miller, feel free to ask them below. As a reminder, you can also post comments & questions on Maddie's Pet Forum as an anonymous person by selecting the "Post Anonymously" option.


    Agenda

    • Hosts @Renena McCaskill, Deputy Director Shelter Manager, Detroit Animal Care and @Charlotte Otero (she/her), Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
    • Question of the Day: What is your favorite self-care activity? Or what's something that you like to do for yourself to reset after a stressful day?
    • Presentation from @Taylor Miller, Not One More Vet: Fatigue in All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue
    • Renena McCaskill shared this quote by Scott Adams, who is the creator of the syndicated Dilbert comic strip: "There's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." So never forget the little things, because everything matters…even a simple SMILE!
    National Updates ​​​

    ------------------------------
    Charlotte Otero
    Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
    she/her
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    NOMV Flavors of Fatigue Slides Color.pdf   621 KB 1 version


  • 4.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 08-29-2022 03:19 PM
      |   view attached
    I know that fatigue is a heavy topic and after today's call, you may be wondering, "so what can I actually do now?" I know I sure left the call that way! I heard so many examples from Dr. Taylor that I definitely do without even realizing it's a sign of fatigue.

    The thing about self-care is it is a daily practice that we often neglect. We care for animals 7 days a week so why shouldn't we take care of ourselves 7 days a week? I know I'm not the best at it myself so I wanted to share some additional Compassion Fatigue resources I've found that are available to you and your organization to help you continue this important work.


    Free Learning in Maddie's University: Here's a quick list of some self-paced free courses that you and individuals on your staff can take at any time and all courses in Maddie's University are approved for continuing education credits.  https://maddies.fund/MUCompassionFatigue


    Jessica Dolce is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator and has spent almost 20 years working with companion animals. I encourage you to check out her website which has tons of compassion fatigue resources like self assessments and when you sign up for her mailing list you will receive the ABCs of Self-care Workbook for anyone who is in search of a little self-care guidance. I also recommend reading her blogs she wrote for HeARTs Speak linked below, my favorite is "Where do your stories go" which talks about we as humans are story sponges-- we soak up so many emotions and traumatic stories that we need to find ways to wring out that sponge and let things go. It's an easy read with some practical tips.


    Compassion Fatigue Strategies from University of Florida's Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program


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    Charlotte Otero
    Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
    she/her
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    Compassion Fatigue Resources 8.29.22.pdf   70 KB 1 version


  • 5.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 11-23-2022 09:29 AM
    Thank you! Have been suffering from care giver fatigue my soul mate a Golden great pyrenees mix was diagnosed with kidney disease on Christmas eve 3 years ago after having had liver disease for 3 year prior. I quit my job to care for her she was given 6 months  only made it 5 she was 14. My Golden boy her best friend went downhill and lost him as well at 13. Know I am fostering a special need great pyrenees with dry eye I love her some much and wish could adopt her medications are so expensive wish I could afford all her care not just food treat and toys. Her eye meds and throid medicine are about 400. A month she is 5 so over a lifetime treatment medications costs really add up the rescue currently pays for  medications so fostering her. Thanks again

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    Cindy Wilde
    Foster mom extroanier
    Companion golden retriever rescue
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  • 6.  RE: Community Conversations - 8/29/22 - Fatigue In All Its Flavors: Decision, Compassion & Ethical/Moral Fatigue

    Posted 11-30-2022 09:32 AM
    Cindy,
    I'm so sorry to hear about your losses and appreciate that you are still able to offer love and care to animals in need. As you are posting to this thread, I am hopeful that you recognize the need to make your own care a priority. Please offer yourself the same compassion and generosity I know you are showing the animals you love. 
    All my best, 
    Taylor

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    Taylor Miller
    Veterinarian
    NOMV
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    Original Message


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