Page 54 - eclipse - Autumn 2018

CLASSNOTES
“I wish I’d known that . . .”
How many times did you think this in your first job after Graduation? As you know, the first year in practice,
organisation or any career can be
a daunting time and we want to help our final year students and new graduates by giving them some useful hints and tips from the people that know it best – you!
So with that in mind, we recently posted on Facebook and asked for your advice that we can share with new graduates and lots of you responded!
Please do carry on sharing your advice either in the comments on the Facebook post or by emailing development@rvc.ac.uk.
Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page (search for us at Royal Veterinary College Alumni) so you can keep up to date on RVC news, events, jobs and more ... and also join in similar conversations to this one in the future!
Emma
The 3 clamp spay technique does not work in Chihuahuas or cats. One clamp will do (only put the second one on just before you remove the pedicle!).
Emma
Gold standard is really about finding
the best solution for that particular pet and their owner. It’s not about running every test and performing every possible surgery. So don’t be offended when clients refuse to pursue treatment even for something potentially treatable. First opinion practice is very different to the referrals you saw at uni.
Lizzie
Rabbits have a very superficial artery in their gums that easily gets caught when rasping their teeth.
Elliot
And their femoral artery looks remarkably like a medial saphenous vein!
Sarah
If you find yourself in a practice that is unsupportive or you are being bullied you don’t have to put up with that.
Brian
80% of the job is communication
with clients. The medicine/surgery is secondary to that – you need to gain
the clients trust and have them have faith in you or you’ll never get to do any medicine/surgery. The knowledge is in you (even if you feel completely blank sometimes). Be confident and be honest and you’ll succeed.
Rebekah
I wish someone had told me it’s okay to not want to go into clinical practice ... your degree opens many doors and not wanting to continue down the “normal” clinical career pathway is nothing to be ashamed of!
Elisabeth
Don’t panic if you don’t have much neutering experience before you graduate. A good employer will teach you and help you until you are confident and comfortable with the basics.
Laura
I wish I’d have known how pants the pay is.
Michelle
You don’t have to solve everything in that first consult.......
Andrea
Make friends with the nurses, they will teach you more than you can now imagine.
Katie
Always wear gloves when casting
- I’ve spent the last couple of days picking plaster off my fingers, it’s like superglue!!!!!!!
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