Pulse - April 2022 - 12

on de-escalation training. She helps clients
with difficult decisions and end-oflife
grief, she counsels staff through their
challenges, and works hard to support our
growing/changing management team.
Lisa's
interventions and assistance
have
provided relief for upper management to
focus on more systemic and macro-level
changes for the practice. "
The program has been well received by
staff.
" They have embraced our social worker
with open arms and are excited about
expansion of the program, " Dr. Reniker
said. " The staff are asking for coverage at all
our locations, and our program has been in
effect only four months. "
Brackenridge said some corporate practices
have tried hiring social workers to
support multiple hospitals.
" But I believe in embedded social work, "
she said. " In a large hospital, research indicates
that the main stressor for veterinary
professionals in the hospital is the client.
" Client emotionality,
client burden
transfers
to the veterinary professional, "
she said. " When a social worker
is embedded, we can go relieve that veterinarian
who has been talking with the
client for 15 minutes. When the veterinarian
or nurse is talking to clients for
a long time, other patients aren't getting
what they need. "
Client and staff support is most effective,
Brackenridge said.
" I can come in, introduce myself, say
wonderful things about their pet. At some
point, I'd say, let's let Dr. Smith go, and I'll
sit and talk with you awhile. "
Dr. Reniker said, " The staff are asking
for coverage at all our locations, and
our program has been in effect only
four months. "
As is true of many veterinary professionals,
Brackenridge always wanted to
work with animals. And working with the
people who work with animals seems a
natural extension, as is training others to
work with them as well.
" In training new veterinary social workers, "
she said, " I always tell them you'll see
more love in the veterinary profession
than in any other form of social work. " P
Tennessee Was First to Offer Veterinary
Social Work Program
From The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, veterinary social workers site, vetsocialwork.utk.edu:
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Social Work established the
country's first veterinary social work program in 2002.
The program's motto is " Attending to human needs at the intersection of veterinary and social work
practice. "
Elizabeth B. Strand, Ph.D., founding director of the veterinary social work program and associate professor
at Tennessee, said about 170 social workers who enrolled in her program have earned or were earning
certificates in either veterinary social work or the related field of veterinary human support. An additional
200 have earned continuing education through the program.
As the COVID-19 pandemic added uncertainty and instability, veterinary social workers say their
expertise is needed now more than ever.
12
APRIL 2022
PULSE

http://vetsocialwork.utk.edu

Pulse - April 2022

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