VETERINARYmoda Team

It’s time. You have built up your experience and expertise, and you are quietly confident that you are ready to take a big step up in your career. Your motivations could be many. Building up a nest egg in anticipation of adding to your family, you want the challenge of leading a substantial team, you desire to fix some of the systemic issues that challenge the veterinary space, or practice ownership is your goal. You may be concerned about skill stagnation, have a deep-seated wish to create the ideal practice culture from the ground up, or take on a leadership role at an industry level, guiding policies and protocols that will have a long-lasting impact. Current research confirms that one in four veterinary professionals – doctors, nurses or veterinary technicians or management – are considering changing their employment in 2023. If you are considering such a change, here are five key ways you can prepare to boost your veterinary career…

Sometimes changing jobs is inevitable…there are multitudes of reasons for needing to change your job. Perhaps your partner has secured an opportunity of a lifetime elsewhere, or you need to move a little closer to the family as they need extra care. Or, you decide that now is the time to step up and move ahead in your career and changing jobs is the most viable option. So, having made the big decision, it’s time to start working on your Social Media Veterinary Career Strategy…

As a Veterinarian, Vet Nurse, Technician, or Veterinary Team Member, you probably don’t get told this enough; we are deeply grateful that you care so passionately about our pets and animals, and their family members. You are generous and empathetic, and your many years of study and your practical experience make you an expert that we trust. And as a caregiver, you are uniquely rewarded each and every day. But you also know vulnerability, occasional helplessness, and that there will inevitably be a small number of failures, even if they are often out of your control. So, if you are finding that your days are not as sparkly as they once were, that kittens don’t make you smile quite as often, or that a senior dog still vigorously wagging their tail doesn’t make you feel as warm inside as it once used to, you may well have Compassion Fatigue. Emotional and physical exhaustion that can often lead to a diminished sense of satisfaction in both work and life generally. Here are some practical tips to help you maintain your passion for your profession…Exploring these suggestions may help you return to being vigorously passionate about your profession…

Setting boundaries means being honest about what you can and cannot handle right now…and often that is a daunting admission…an admission that we are indeed human, have our limitations and need to be constantly balancing and rebalancing work, life and play. Perhaps if we all learned how to set and respect boundaries, we could foster more mutual respect and compassion amongst each other, rather than resentment or anger. And we might just add another small but important facet towards improving the overall mental health of the veterinary profession. Here are some key steps toward setting mutually beneficial boundaries…

So, you’ve worked hard and earned your certification. Congratulations, you are now a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician. But now, a whole new challenge lies ahead – continuing your momentum and success as you start this next stage of your career as a working Veterinary Professional! Making the transition from student to practicing in-the-real is an exciting time, but it can also be understandably daunting. During your first year of employment especially, a great support network is invaluable. Helpful colleagues, accessible professional resources, and some mindful self-care will not only kick-start your career but will also support your mental and physical health during a potentially stressful time. So, to help you feel more grounded, calm, and in control of your journey, here are a few early veterinary career tips that we sourced from Veterinary Professionals like you who have “been there, done that” and not just survived, but thrived…

You know that sinking feeling. You have an unexpected gap in your shift scheduler, staring back at you, expecting to be magically filled. Or you know deep down that it’s time to ease the workload in your practice and give your permanent team members that well-earned R&R they well-and-truly deserve. You need an experienced, reliable locum relief veterinary professional, one that is worth their weight in gold. But even better – and we are talking platinum grade here – is an experienced, reliable locum relief professional already familiar with your protocols, facilities, team and clientele, who can hit the ground running. And for Locum Relief Vets, Nurses and Technicians, discover how to set the scene for your Locum Relief contracts. Here are six ways to attract the most valuable locum relief talent to your practice and ensure their visit is more than just a one-shift wonder…

Here you are, still relatively early in your veterinary career. You’re making it, not faking it nowadays. Still, every so often, there’s a curly medical situation, or a brief moment of self-doubt or you come across a more seasoned Vet, Nurse, or Tech who seems to have all the answers right at their fingertips. You don’t have “imposter syndrome” exactly, but you occasionally find yourself wondering how you will ever achieve that level of expertise…that combination of experience, grace, and talent that will one day fill you to overflowing with the confidence to deliver best-practice veterinary care, all day, every day. Fortunately, courtesy of a bubble in the space-time continuum, the experienced, talented, and confident future you has sent these gems of wisdom back for you to build on. So, heads up…

Veterinarians, Veterinary Nurses, and Veterinary Technicians are drawn to locum relief work for a wide variety of reasons. Some individuals want to focus on maximizing income, while others want to maximize flexibility and work-life balance. Regardless of what draws you to relief medicine, it’s important to ensure that you are running your relief business in a way that reflects what you hope to get out of the profession. Consciously evaluating your business strategy is not only important for vets, nurses, and vet techs that are new to the locum relief world, but also for those who have been in the veterinary relief field for years. Thinking consciously about your business will ensure that your locum relief career is working for you. Locum relief work is often recognized as a source of better pay, reduced work stress, and the ability to set your own schedule, but these benefits don’t come automatically. Learn how to maximize the benefits of locum work, while minimizing relief-related headaches…