Ep 10: Moral Injury in Vet Med: What is it and How Leaders Can Help
With Kristin Lake B.Sc. CVT, LVT
In this episode, I sit down with Kristin Lake, a credentialed veterinary technician with extensive experience in emergency and critical care, to talk about something that hits close to home for so many in our field — moral distress and moral injury in veterinary medicine. Kristin shares how these experiences often show up in practice, how they differ from burnout, and what leaders can do to help their teams process and prevent moral injury.
We dig into real-life examples, the emotional toll of tough cases, and the importance of debriefing as a leadership tool — not just to support team wellbeing, but to build trust and psychological safety across the hospital. We also explore how financial constraints and systemic challenges contribute to moral injury, why technicians often carry a unique emotional weight, and how advocacy can be both empowering and exhausting. This is a powerful conversation for any leader who wants to understand the deeper “why” behind team fatigue — and learn how to lead through it with empathy, transparency, and action.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The difference between moral distress, moral injury, and burnout
How moral injury shows up in day-to-day veterinary practice
The role of leadership in recognizing and responding to team distress
Why debriefing after difficult cases builds trust and resilience
How to navigate the emotional toll of financial and ethical constraints
Practical ways to create psychological safety within your team
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Moral Distress in Veterinary Medicine
00:24 Meet Kristin Lake: Expertise and Experience
02:20 Understanding Moral Injury vs. Burnout
04:00 Real-Life Examples of Moral Distress
10:35 Impact on Team Dynamics and Leadership
15:44 Addressing Moral Injury: Solutions and Strategies
23:51 Building Trust and Accountability in Leadership
26:58 The Role of Technicians in Advocacy
28:15 Balancing Emotions in Professional Advocacy
31:53 Addressing Financial Constraints in Veterinary Care
37:41 The Importance of Psychological Safety
41:14 Recommended Reading for Veterinary Professionals
44:24 Final Thoughts and Resources
Connect with Kristin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinlake/
Website: https://vetmedmathtutoring.com/
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