Narrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice

Improving Client Communication, Patient Care, and Veterinary Well-being

Karen R. Fine

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780367647636
• eBook ISBN: 9781000464276
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Equine Veterinary Science

This is the first guide to Veterinary Narrative Medicine, a cutting-edge approach in human medicine with multiple applications in veterinary medicine. The text combines the latest research with numerous real-world examples and practical techniques to improve client communication, patient care, and veterinary well-being.

Narrative Medicine maintains that a patient should be viewed as an individual rather than an example of a disease process, and that this can be accomplished by using narrative. This book explores methods and theories from leaders in the human Narrative Medicine field while addressing topics unique to veterinary medicine. Readers will gain tools to help navigate difficult conversations and situations in clinical practice, including those involving the end of life.

Narrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice also addresses the important issue of veterinary wellness. The ability to view the veterinarian's own stories and those of clients and patients as narratives may help practitioners maintain both emotional and work-place boundaries as well as decrease burnout and compassion fatigue. The book describes basic techniques to promote self-reflection and mindfulness, skills often overlooked in the veterinary profession which can improve resilience and increase the enjoyment of veterinary practice.

This is important reading for veterinary practitioners, students, veterinary nurses, technicians, social workers, and all veterinary clinic staff.

Index

• AAHA’s Trends magazine 120
• AAVMC see Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
• abilities, clients with different 119–20
• Access to Veterinary Care Coalition (AVCC) 120
• acupuncture 19, 52, 61, 107
• acupuncturists, veterinary 10
• ADR see Ain’t Doin’ Right (ADR)
• affiliation 7–8
• Ain’t Doin’ Right (ADR) 40
• AlignCare^® 122
• Always Hurts A Bit (Redmond) 144–5
• ambiguity, tolerance for 31
• American Family Physician 61
• Angell Animal Medical Center 129, 158
• anticipatory grief 56, 89–90, 129
• anxiety 26, 28, 52, 56, 91, 120, 129, 158, 189
• anxiety disorder 18
• anxious client
  • guidelines for dealing with 56–7
  • reassuring 56–7
• “The Art of Observation” 16
• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 116
• Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) 113, 125
• Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity (Epstein) 31, 66
• attention 7
  • healing through 54–55
• AVCC see Access to Veterinary Care Coalition (AVCC)
• AVMA’s State of the Profession Report from 2020 124

• bad news, delivery of 61–3
• balance 11, 32, 45, 156, 159
• Balint, E. 164
• Balint, Michael 164
• Balint group 164
• Bark magazine 62
• Bechdel–Wallace test 125
• Becker, M. 26, 159
• beginner’s mind 30–2, 121, 153, 158
• behavior
  • feline elimination 18–19
  • veterinary 1...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Author
• Section One Narrative Medicine in Human Medical Practice
• Section Two The Veterinary Appointment
• Section Three Unique to Veterinary Medicine
• Section Four Our Own Stories
• References
• Appendix A Personal Loss Timelines, by Julie Gass, L.I.C.S.W.
• Appendix B Legacy Projects and Dignity Therapy, by Julie Gass, L.I.C.S.W.
• Acknowledgments
• Index