According to a survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 42% of veterinarians reported working more than 50 hours per week, and 26% reported working more than 60 hours per week. The same survey found that veterinarians who worked in emergency and critical care were more likely to work overtime than those who worked in other specialties.
Here are some of the factors that can contribute to a veterinarian's need to work overtime:
- Patient care: Veterinarians often work overtime to ensure that their patients are receiving the best possible care. This can include staying late to perform surgeries or treatments, or coming in on their days off to check on patients.
- Emergency calls: Veterinarians who are on call may need to work overtime to respond to emergencies. These emergencies can occur at any time of day or night, and veterinarians must be prepared to respond quickly.
- Administrative tasks: Veterinarians also need to complete administrative tasks, such as charting, billing, and scheduling appointments. These tasks can often be time-consuming, and veterinarians may need to work overtime to complete them.
Overall, veterinarians work long hours because they are passionate about their work and want to provide the best possible care for their patients. Additionally, some veterinarians work overtime because they are on call and need to be available to respond to emergencies.