As a veterinary professional who has been in the field for over 10 years, I’ve gotten to experience a lot of different clinic atmospheres and day-to-day procedures. When I was a full-time associate veterinarian at one clinic, I got to help shape the workflow and day a bit as I was invested in the practice. Now that I work as a full-time relief veterinarian, I generally come into a shift not having much of a grasp on how things will flow or what to expect. There’s a lot hospitals can do to get relief vets up to speed quickly so we can do our best work.
As a relief veterinarian of 3+ years who works in multiple states across the country, I’ve had experiences in a wide range of clinics. I’ve honed in on the types of practices that tend to run more smoothly for me and be a better match for the way I practice, but there are still particular traits that make a clinic really enjoyable to work at and easy to mesh with.
Here are some of the biggest factors that help me in a daytime general practice shift:
ESPECIALLY someone who knows the essentials like what common bloodwork panels get used in and out of the clinic, what the personal protocols are for the clinic regarding vaccines without examinations, prescriptions, where SOAP notes get entered, etc.
There are unfortunately many clinics I go to that do not have a knowledgeable technician or staff member available to ask questions like these, and as a relief veterinarian going to clinics all across the country, it’s so hard for me to know these small details.
Having an experienced tech or staff member available for my first shift also helps me get a better feel for the clinic culture, how the flow is meant to work, and just in general be able to enjoy the day more since we can be focusing on patient care and getting to know each other instead of scrambling to find answers!
There are many clinics that prefer not to schedule this way, but I’ve found it to be really helpful! Working through my lunch hour not only hurts me and my cognitive function for the second half of the day, but it also hurts the staff and takes away the time they have to recharge. I also like to take downtime to talk with the technicians and staff to get to know them and how they like to work, which I think makes for a better work day for everyone.
I’m often coming into a clinic for the first time and using software that is new to me or used in a different way than I’ve done previously, so it can take additional time to complete SOAP notes. I’m personally very efficient and quick with my notes, but it still takes me time to get up to speed at a new clinic. I also try to be as thorough and detailed as possible when I’m working as a relief veterinarian to allow the staff veterinarian to easily follow up with the cases I have seen.
This ties into my last point: It can sometimes take me extra time to adjust to a new software and keep up with the flow, so a tech or staff member to help with this aspect is invaluable! I love when I go to a clinic for the first time and see that the staff are efficient in history taking and getting vitals and have that information in a SOAP document for me quickly. This helps the day flow so much more smoothly and with less stress. It allows me to focus my energy on client and staff communication and bonding.
This one I have found to be super important:
Unfortunately, I’ve worked many shifts where there is no login available for me at the start of the shift, and sometimes, the manager or HR person needs to be called at the start of the day to get access to this. Having this information a few days ahead of time, or at least waiting for me when I arrive, saves so much time and stress in the morning. It’s so helpful to be able to walk into a shift, be able to log in right away, and start getting a feel for the schedule and flow of the day. Having to wait to enter notes or log in until the right person has been contacted tends to lead to getting behind on records first thing in the morning, which is hard to come back from.
I know this is easier said than done sometimes, but it’s so great to come into a shift excited and ready to meet new team members when they are excited to have me as well. I try to come in with a positive attitude and good ideas, and it makes the day feel so rewarding when team members ask me questions, express their excitement, and are appreciative of the help. I love making a positive impact on clinic morale as well as client engagement, and I do that best when we are all on the same page.
There are many things I do to try to bring my best self to relief shifts, and this is a great starting point for things that help me have a low stress and high impact day at a new clinic.
Stay tuned for my next article where I explain what I do as a relief veterinarian to help the day run smoothly as well (think outside of the “be easygoing” box and more in the “keep a good routine for each place”).
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