⏳ A Day in the Life of a Locum Relief Vet
Curious about the day-to-day realities of a locum relief vet? Whether you’re a seasoned veterinarian contemplating a career shift or a fresh graduate exploring your options, the allure of locum work is undeniable. Imagine a life where you set your own schedule, explore diverse work environments, and earn a premium rewarding income. But what does a day in this role actually look like? We’ve got the inside scoop from a real-life locum vet who’s living this dream every day. Discover the highs, the lows, and everything in between – this is your ultimate backstage pass to the world of locum veterinary medicine…
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My alarm clock goes off at 6:00 a.m., and I roll out of bed. Today, I’m working at an upscale, single-doctor practice in a nearby big city. I’ve worked there several times before, and I always enjoy it. Their clients are friendly and compliant, the staff is well-trained and fun to work with, I always get a lunch break and get to leave on time, and the practice is surrounded by great lunch restaurants. They pay a bit less than some of my other clients, but the trade-off is well worth it.
The owner of this practice usually wears scrubs, so I pull on my favorite scrubs and sneakers. I toss a snack and bottle of water in my backpack while checking to make sure that my stethoscope, extra scrubs, and favorite reference books are still in there. I don’t have to worry about packing a lunch, which simplifies my morning routine significantly.
I fight through a bit of traffic and arrive at 7:45 a.m., fifteen minutes before the practice opens. The doors are still locked, so I knock until the receptionist lets me in. We visit for a few minutes, catching up on our lives since I last worked there a few months ago, and the receptionist introduces me to a new team member. I always stop to visit the front desk before the day gets started because I’ve learned that winning them over is the key to gaining client respect and getting more work at a practice.
When I walk back into the treatment area, I that some of my favorite veterinary technicians and assistants are working. We also take a few minutes to catch up, sharing updates on veterinary medicine and life in general. I set down my backpack, and then look up my username and password to log into the practice’s computer system.
The schedule shows that I have appointments every 30 minutes from 8.00 – 10:30 a.m., surgeries from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., lunch from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., and appointments from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. I don’t always agree to do surgery for relief clients, but I’ve spent enough time at this practice to be comfortable with their medical quality and their anesthesia/pain management protocols. Today, I’ll be neutering two puppies.
At 8.00 a.m., the first appointment arrives – a new kitten visit. I talk to my vet tech before we enter the room, confirming which vaccines we’re going to recommend, how we will handle client education, and how we will work together to collect samples and give vaccines. I try to be flexible and adapt to the practice’s normal routine, wherever I’m working, but communication is key to making that happen. Discussing a plan helps ensure that this room, and the rest of our day, go smoothly. After we finish the kitten’s exam and services, I type up the patient’s medical notes while the vet tech enters the charges in the computer.
Morning appointments flow in this way until 10:30 a.m., gradually becoming easier as the techs and I fall back into a comfortable rhythm working together. After finishing morning appointments, we shift to surgery. I examine my patients, review the anesthesia protocols that the surgery tech has created, and proceed with anesthesia and surgery. Everything goes well, and both patients fully recover by noon, leaving me with an hour and a half for lunch.
I write my cell phone number on the treatment area whiteboard, in case the team needs to reach me while I’m at lunch. I then walk to a nearby restaurant and sit outside to eat lunch, enjoy some fresh air, and catch up on calls and emails.
Two of my existing clients have sent emails requesting relief coverage later in the month. Both are regular clients, and I’m available on the requested dates, so I confirm both requests and add the dates to my calendar.
I also have a voicemail from a potential new client, requesting relief help. I’ve never worked for his practice before, and I have some reservations. They have a reputation for being a high-volume practice, and I’m also unfamiliar with their medical quality. I call and speak with the practice owner, asking about medical protocols, support staff, and everything in between. I couldn’t find any major red flags, and he offers me a higher daily rate than I normally charge, so I decided to give the practice a try. I scheduled myself to work one day at the practice, on a day that the owner will be working. If it’s not a great fit, it’s only a one-day commitment, and I will be well-compensated. If everything works out, the practice may turn out to be a lucrative client.
Finally, I head back to the hospital for afternoon appointments. I see a handful of wellness visits, a dog with stress colitis, and a cat needing a health certificate. I discharge the morning’s surgical patients and even have a few minutes to flip through a veterinary journal (thanks to a canceled appointment).
By 5:30 p.m., my records are complete, and the vet techs have handled everything else. I leave a note for the practice owner, updating her on how the day went and asking her to follow up on the dog with stress colitis. Then, I say goodbye to the support staff and walk out the front door.
When I get home, I sit down at the computer for a few minutes to handle a few business tasks. It’s tempting to save these for tomorrow, but I resist. I prefer taking care of my business responsibilities in the evenings that I work; although that makes my workdays feel a bit longer, it also allows me to work just two or three days a week and not think even think about work on my days off. I email my relief contract to the new client, inserting the work hours and daily rate that we agreed to in our call. I create an invoice for today’s work and submit it via email. Finally, I document the number of miles that I drove today and file my receipt from lunch for my accountant.
I eat dinner, unwind with some television, and crawl into bed. As expected, the day went smoothly, and I actually had fun working with the team. Even after taking care of some work tonight, I still had more free time than I did as an associate vet because I wasn’t stuck at work all night returning client calls and authorizing prescription requests. I was able to practice medicine, and then leave for the day.
I drift off to sleep, eagerly looking forward to the hiking trip that I have planned for tomorrow, with no work responsibilities left hanging over my head.
My summary…
Working as a relief vet is not all that different, on a day-to-day basis, from working as an associate veterinarian. On your first day at a new hospital, you will spend some time getting to know the support staff, getting a feel for their protocols and workflows, navigating the practice management software, and learning what medications are available. By the end of the day, you will likely feel comfortable with the team and be relatively familiar with how the practice operates. If you like the practice, and they like you, you may find yourself returning to the practice on a recurrent basis, allowing you to develop an even greater comfort level.
Relief vets create their own schedules, and they are free to decline any work offer that does not appeal to them. This provides an opportunity for unparalleled work-life balance, while also allowing you to identify and avoid unpleasant work environments. In exchange for this flexibility, however, relief vets need to be prepared to take on some non-medical tasks, such as marketing themselves to new clients, interviewing potential new clients, scheduling workdays, and preparing invoices. Fortunately, these tasks are not time-consuming. In most cases, they can fit into a lunch break or a brief period of time after work, leaving relief vets free to enjoy their days off with friends and family.
In conclusion…
The life of a locum relief vet isn’t a walk in the park – it demands adaptability, strong communication skills, and a knack for quick learning. But don’t let these challenges deter you. The freedom to design your own work-life balance, the opportunity to diversify your veterinary experience, and the financial rewards make it an incredibly appealing career path for many. If you’re willing to navigate the complexities, the world of locum veterinary medicine can offer a fulfilling and flexible way to practice your passion.
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