Verbal Communication Verbal communication skills make use of the spoken word. When using verbal communication skills, pay attention to your tone of voice and the pacing of your speech. These have great influence on the meaning of your words. For instance, if you use the appropriate words to describe a situation but say them at a very fast pace, you may be viewed as rushed, nervous, or insensitive. However, if you speak the same words too slowly, you may be viewed as dull or condescending. Monitor your voice tone when you are working with clients who are grieving. Words that… Continue Reading
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Like bandage art? Try our NEW HeartFelt Stickers
The practice of using bandage art on catheter wraps during client-present euthanasia adds a tangible touch of compassion to the care you provide. In times of grief, people will often forget the intangible acts of compassion. So, they need something they can see and feel to remind them of your genuine care for them after they leave your hospital. One way to demonstrate your heartfelt care, especially during times of loss, is to use our new HeartFelt Stickers. The idea for these stickers, like many of our products, came from you–the experienced veterinary team. How bandage art helped me say… Continue Reading
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month! Find out below how sales of our “Gotcha” Ribbons benefit Golden Growls Senior Rescue. This year we launched our Give Back Program which supports organizations that align with our mission through a portion of the sales of certain products. We’re taking this chance to talk about how our “Gotcha” Ribbon sales benefit a senior pet rescue that is very close to our hearts. The founder, Cassie McArdle is a member of our AMAZING customer service team. In honor of this special month, we interviewed Cassie about Golden Growls Senior Rescue. Interview with… Continue Reading
Nonverbal Communication: Clinical Communication Skills Part 1
Nonverbal Communication Only a small percentage of communication happens verbally. Along with what is said, communication is also: where it is said how it is said why it is said when it is said whom it is said to and, what is not said Nonverbal communication is conveyed through facial expressions, body postures, gestures, and hand movements as well as through writing, reading, and listening. Nonverbal communication adds meaning to the verbal. The following nonverbal communication skills and techniques, used with verbal ones, enhance your message of compassion and care. Structuring the Environment Structuring the environment means paying attention to the various elements of… Continue Reading
Emotional Support Protocols
Most grief support is conveyed through the use of a specific set of emotional support protocols and techniques. These basic clinical communication skills include verbal and nonverbal behaviors like direct eye contact, touch, facial expressions, and body language. If you want to connect with and provide support for your grieving clients, it helps to be a skilled communicator. But skilled communication does not just happen. Basic verbal and non-verbal skills and techniques can be learned, often through trial and error, but more effectively through education and practice. Practice, Practice, Practice In coming blog posts, we will review the verbal and… Continue Reading
Setting Boundaries for Support
Veterinary team members who provide skilled client support often develop an extremely loving and loyal clientele. Many of your clients will think of you as a friend. This is why it is important to understand the concept of setting boundaries for support. Once your clients have experienced the quality of your comfort and care, they may naturally turn to you for assistance with the other problems in their lives. This may be especially common when those problems involve a medical issue or death. For example, they may come to you with questions about an illness they are coping with, their… Continue Reading
Supporting Your Clients’ Grief
According to one study in human medicine, the leading reason for seeking medical care is relief of distress. The effort to minimize distress is often described in the medical literature as the act of providing comfort. Comfort means “to strengthen” and is most often described as a physical, mental, and/or emotional state of ease or well-being. Offering comfort is the most important part of supporting your clients’ grief after pet loss. In a 1998 commentary in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Franklin McMillan suggested that comfort, not health, is the “primary and central objective of medical practice.” Dr. McMillan… Continue Reading
Take and Bake Containers Make Your Job Easier!
If baking ClayPaws® prints is what is standing in your way of trying our process or you feel like it takes up too much of your staff’s time, consider our Take and Bake Containers! Rather than switching to a paw print kit of lesser quality that is less versatile and more unpredictable, just simplify your ClayPaws Print-Making Process! We designed our Take and Bake Containers to eliminate the step of baking prints onsite while still allowing you to send prints home safely the same day. Today, we are announcing the launch of our NEW Large Take & Bake Containers. These… Continue Reading
