How does attendance at Schwartz Rounds affect veterinary professionals' experience in clinical practice?

Schwartz Rounds improve veterinary team wellbeing and workplace culture through shared compassion and vulnerability.

This qualitative study examined how Schwartz Rounds—structured group reflective forums for healthcare staff—affect veterinary professionals' wellbeing and workplace culture. Ten veterinary professionals who attended multiple Schwartz Rounds were interviewed, with data analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged: 'enabling compassion' through shared storytelling and active listening, 'empowering vulnerability' by witnessing senior colleagues model emotional openness and building team connectedness, and 'enhancing organisational insight' by exposing attendees to colleagues' wider workplace experiences. The study demonstrates that Schwartz Rounds positively impact veterinary professionals' working conditions and foster meaningful changes in workplace culture through improved colleague relationships, shared understanding, and increased compassion. However, limitations include the exclusion of non-clinical team members and lack of assessment regarding impacts on patient care and client experience. Despite these constraints, the evidence supports Schwartz Rounds as a valuable organizational intervention for supporting team wellbeing in veterinary clinical practice.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.