Class of 2015... How ya doing?

[MassDVMMPH]

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Saw my first ER case around 10:30 this morning after working up the inpatients and doing paperwork for about 3.5 hours. First words of of the client's mouth when I went to take the history? "Well, Fluffy woke me up about an hour ago and . . ."

On the outside, I have my professional face on. "Great, ma'am, tell me more about the head tilt."

On the inside? " . . . you lucky bastard . . ."

To be fair, many people work the night shift. For them, sleeping during the day is normal. I saw a lot of 2 - 3 AM emergencies because people who worked second shift (they get out at 11 PM) go home and figure out something's wrong with their dog/cat around midnight, then realize it's serious a couple of hours later and probably shouldn't wait until the next morning. Bam, I'm rolling out of bed in the wee hours - not the owners' fault though - they're just on a different schedule than most people.

 

[jmo1012]

you in need of sleep?

Hahaha yes clearly. Autocorrect is hard on me. And I've just never improved at digital keyboards!

 

[psilovethomas]

@that redhead : do you work in VA? If so, how long did it take you to get your DEA license? What was the process?

 

[nyanko]

DEA license is a national thing. I don't remember how long it took honestly, but I don't think it was that long once you have a state license somewhere. It's expensive as all get out though.

 

[that redhead]

@that redhead : do you work in VA? If so, how long did it take you to get your DEA license? What was the process?

Nope, MD. And I don't have a DEA license, I work under our umbrella license at the practice. (Don't get me started - I want one but cost is too much and employer won't pay for it...) Sorry I'm not much help :\

 

[dyachei]

@that redhead : do you work in VA? If so, how long did it take you to get your DEA license? What was the process?

you fill out an application and send them a $731 check. Usually it's a very quick process

 

[jmo1012]

Nope, MD. And I don't have a DEA license, I work under our umbrella license at the practice. (Don't get me started - I want one but cost is too much and employer won't pay for it...) Sorry I'm not much help :\

why don't you feel like the umbrella license is enough? just curious - i work under an umbrella license and its great (though admittedly i'm not prescribing any long term hydrocodone or tramadol)

 

[that redhead]

why don't you feel like the umbrella license is enough? just curious - i work under an umbrella license and its great (though admittedly i'm not prescribing any long term hydrocodone or tramadol)

It is enough in most scenarios. But if I want to call out or script out to an outside pharmacy, I have to have another doc sign or use their DEA# over the phone. And since I'm in GP, there is a fair bit of longer term use/people buying large quantities that want to go the outside route. I'd also like the peace of mind of having my own number and not having to worry about the legal aspect of it all if push came to shove.

 

[nyanko]

why don't you feel like the umbrella license is enough? just curious - i work under an umbrella license and its great (though admittedly i'm not prescribing any long term hydrocodone or tramadol)

I think if I stacked up all the hydrocodone and phenobarbital scripts I've written in my 2 years out (rotating at a cardio/resp heavy practice and neurology specialty internship) it'd be at least as tall as my house. It's worth it to not have to worry about it IMO.

 

[Minnerbelle]

DEA is quick, but it's the getting all your state **** done beforehand that can take forever depending on where you live.

Like ugh, my state wouldn't look at my apps until they got a copy of my diploma which my school wouldn't give out until graduation day. And depending on when you sent your application in, it could take like forever to get it. And then I think you need your license to get your state controlled license or whatever before you could get your DEA. DEA was great and efficient. Everything else was oh so slow. I didn't get my DEA license until sometime in July...


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[nyanko]

DEA is quick, but it's the getting all your state **** done beforehand that can take forever depending on where you live.

Like ugh, my state wouldn't look at my apps until they got a copy of my diploma which my school wouldn't give out until graduation day. And depending on when you sent your application in, it could take like forever to get it. And then I think you need your license to get your state controlled license or whatever before you could get your DEA. DEA was great and efficient. Everything else was oh so slow. I didn't get my DEA license until sometime in July...

I did not need a state controlled license in NY. The DEA license was sufficient. The NYS licensing process was a little slow though yeah..

 

[scb44f]

Holy crap, my 4 weeks on in house (read: food animal medicine and surgery services, where there's one medicine diplomate and me to teach 6 students, with a tech who is gone >half the time) is over tomorrow. We have consistently strated the day with one reasonable appointment, and ended with 8+ for what seems like weeks on end. That plus being on call and seeing the most horrifying dystocia imaginable (avulsion of uterus from cervix and a rent extending the entire length of the left horn so calf was entirely in abdomen when we did c section), and watching animals crash and burn around me for weeks plus dealing with a LDR with someone who's trying to buy a house and keeps doing stupid ****... I need 10 beers and a month long hibernation.

 

[Kpowell14]

Holy crap, my 4 weeks on in house (read: food animal medicine and surgery services, where there's one medicine diplomate and me to teach 6 students, with a tech who is gone >half the time) is over tomorrow. We have consistently strated the day with one reasonable appointment, and ended with 8+ for what seems like weeks on end. That plus being on call and seeing the most horrifying dystocia imaginable (avulsion of uterus from cervix and a rent extending the entire length of the left horn so calf was entirely in abdomen when we did c section), and watching animals crash and burn around me for weeks plus dealing with a LDR with someone who's trying to buy a house and keeps doing stupid ****... I need 10 beers and a month long hibernation.

I have a friend that has been on in house the past 2 weeks and has warned me about all the craziness that has been going on..I have to admit I'm pretty nervous because I start food animal tomorrow, but don't have in house until the third third (I go reg-ambo-in house).. What's your schedule like this new block?

 

[that redhead]

Holy crap, my 4 weeks on in house (read: food animal medicine and surgery services, where there's one medicine diplomate and me to teach 6 students, with a tech who is gone >half the time) is over tomorrow. We have consistently strated the day with one reasonable appointment, and ended with 8+ for what seems like weeks on end. That plus being on call and seeing the most horrifying dystocia imaginable (avulsion of uterus from cervix and a rent extending the entire length of the left horn so calf was entirely in abdomen when we did c section), and watching animals crash and burn around me for weeks plus dealing with a LDR with someone who's trying to buy a house and keeps doing stupid ****... I need 10 beers and a month long hibernation.

Holy jeez!

What was the outcome of the c-section case?

 

[that redhead]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this job/career/whatever runs so hot and cold. Sometimes I'm dealing with cases like a boss, I'm rocking my client communication, my records are organized and well written and I don't have too many call-backs and then there are times like these where sht is hitting the fan in all directions and I just want to be a stay at home bump on a log forever and wonder why the heck I ever thought this was a good idea

 

[MassDVMMPH]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this job/career/whatever runs so hot and cold. Sometimes I'm dealing with cases like a boss, I'm rocking my client communication, my records are organized and well written and I don't have too many call-backs and then there are times like these where sht is hitting the fan in all directions and I just want to be a stay at home bump on a log forever and wonder why the heck I ever thought this was a good idea

If it makes you feel better, it's definitely NOT just you...

 

[scb44f]

What's your schedule like this new block?

I think we have talked in person by now, but I go on in house for a week starring Wed, then back to regulatory for a week, then I'm off for a week. Come back on to ambo then.

Holy jeez!

What was the outcome of the c-section case?

Cow is dead. I need to followup with owners, but the calf was alive and standing within an hour of delivery!

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this job/career/whatever runs so hot and cold. Sometimes I'm dealing with cases like a boss, I'm rocking my client communication, my records are organized and well written and I don't have too many call-backs and then there are times like these where sht is hitting the fan in all directions and I just want to be a stay at home bump on a log forever and wonder why the heck I ever thought this was a good idea

Not just you. I offered to help my mentor with cases today since her house officer was out of town and her students had only spent 1 day on her service so far (our rotation changes are occasionally super wonky). I was at the clinic until 2 am resolving a dystocia. Slept for 3.5 hours and was back in the clinic to help. Had a sick cow that needed a moderate amount of help. I came home at 6 this evening, got to my room, laid down, and saw that I had 10 more steps until my fitbit goal for the day was done. I didn't accomplish that until 10 pm, after I got word of a sick pig that might be coming in. After realizing that wasn't likely coming, I went to bed, only to be woken up just now for a sick shih tzu. Sorry, maybe try again and listen to the prompt so you don't wake up the tired ****ing food animal intern next time.

 

[Kpowell14]

I think we have talked in person by now, but I go on in house for a week starring Wed, then back to regulatory for a week, then I'm off for a week. Come back on to ambo then.

Yes we have haha- 2 weeks of reg together. I thought you had figured out which one I was so I never brought it up lol.. I really enjoyed having you on regulatory with us- You are a really good teacher, and you know your food animal medicine very well - I actually would rather go on a call with you than one of the clinicians haha.

 

[pooter]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this job/career/whatever runs so hot and cold. Sometimes I'm dealing with cases like a boss, I'm rocking my client communication, my records are organized and well written and I don't have too many call-backs and then there are times like these where sht is hitting the fan in all directions and I just want to be a stay at home bump on a log forever and wonder why the heck I ever thought this was a good idea

Yep. Had eight things come in in a two hour period yesterday while I was the only one receiving on ER. And two of them were sick, crashing DKAs. Actual conversation between myself and my internmate a little later:

Me: I'm gonna quit and join the circus.
Him: Sure, but what would your act be?
Me: . . . I dunno, probably public crying.

 

[scb44f]

Yes we have haha- 2 weeks of reg together. I thought you had figured out which one I was so I never brought it up lol.. I really enjoyed having you on regulatory with us- You are a really good teacher, and you know your food animal medicine very well - I actually would rather go on a call with you than one of the clinicians haha.

Haha I had figured it out, and thank you! 😀 What a compliment it is for you to say that. I try really hard not to let you guys fall by the wayside.

Me: . . . I dunno, probably public crying.

 

[that redhead]

So I've found another place with a job opening, closer to where I live by a long shot, looking for someone with interest or experience in exotics. The two things holding me at my current place are the schedule and most of the other doctors. I feel like contacting the hiring place couldn't hurt - at least get more information, meet some people, see what the schedule is like. But I don't know if I'd even go forward with it, feeling like I'd hurt the feelings of all the people who have been so great to me while I learn. Not to mention I'd have to re-learn another hospital's policies, etc...I'm really torn, but I would love to have an exotics mentor and get more into that.

 

[twelvetigers]

So I've found another place with a job opening, closer to where I live by a long shot, looking for someone with interest or experience in exotics. The two things holding me at my current place are the schedule and most of the other doctors. I feel like contacting the hiring place couldn't hurt - at least get more information, meet some people, see what the schedule is like. But I don't know if I'd even go forward with it, feeling like I'd hurt the feelings of all the people who have been so great to me while I learn. Not to mention I'd have to re-learn another hospital's policies, etc...I'm really torn, but I would love to have an exotics mentor and get more into that.

Like @dyachei as said in here before, almost no one stays at their first job for more than a year or so. There's no reason to feel bad about it.

 

[Skimble]

So I've found another place with a job opening, closer to where I live by a long shot, looking for someone with interest or experience in exotics. The two things holding me at my current place are the schedule and most of the other doctors. I feel like contacting the hiring place couldn't hurt - at least get more information, meet some people, see what the schedule is like. But I don't know if I'd even go forward with it, feeling like I'd hurt the feelings of all the people who have been so great to me while I learn. Not to mention I'd have to re-learn another hospital's policies, etc...I'm really torn, but I would love to have an exotics mentor and get more into that.

Contacting them and getting more information is a great place to start. If it seems like a really great fit, I'm sure the doctors you work with now will really understand that the other place could be a really good opportunity for you, especially since they do exotics.

 

[Coquette22]

I feel like I'm back in vet school again. Lately every case has been super complicated and the owners want to do everything (case in point: I did my first necropsy since leaving vet school) and I constantly feel like I'm four steps behind.

 

[JaynaAli]

My residency contract came in the mail today. Suddenly it got much more real. 79 more days of internship , almost a month off, then it starts. 😱

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I feel like I'm back in vet school again. Lately every case has been super complicated and the owners want to do everything (case in point: I did my first necropsy since leaving vet school) and I constantly feel like I'm four steps behind.

Damn Canucks takin our jerbs

 

[Coquette22]

Damn Canucks takin our jerbs

Considering I'm averaging one per year, your jobs are safe, 'Murica.

(Confession: I've been binging X-Files on Netflix lately and had to stop myself from narrating it like Scully. "Victim is a 10 year old male Beagle. Time of death estimated at 16 hours ago....")

 

[jmo1012]

My residency contract came in the mail today. Suddenly it got much more real. 79 more days of internship , almost a month off, then it starts. 😱

wow! your internship ends so much sooner than mine! also super jealous you have a month before your residency starts, i'm already stressed about moving in 2 weeks and visiting family and getting settled over 14 days

 

[scb44f]

I got a lead from some of my bf's coworkers that there's a local vet who sees only cattle on a haul in basis and only a couple of days per week. He offers no emergency service after hours and actually lives in another state. I dropped off a bunch of resumes in person including at this clinic. I spoke with the vet, a couple of his clients and his staff members for about an hour. At the end, he started to ask what kind of work I'm interested in, and said he has the setup to do ambulatory work, but he just doesn't like to do it anymore. He also stated he is open to expanding his practice (ambulatory and species-wise), and asked when I would be looking to start. He thanked ME for coming by and said he would be in touch. He practices some old school medicine, and doesnt follow BQA guidelines, but knowing some people who live nearby, I get the feeling some people are interested in getting more from their veterinarian. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity. Fingers crossed.

 

[Kpowell14]

I got a lead from some of my bf's coworkers that there's a local vet who sees only cattle on a haul in basis and only a couple of days per week. He offers no emergency service after hours and actually lives in another state. I dropped off a bunch of resumes in person including at this clinic. I spoke with the vet, a couple of his clients and his staff members for about an hour. At the end, he started to ask what kind of work I'm interested in, and said he has the setup to do ambulatory work, but he just doesn't like to do it anymore. He also stated he is open to expanding his practice (ambulatory and species-wise), and asked when I would be looking to start. He thanked ME for coming by and said he would be in touch. He practices some old school medicine, and doesnt follow BQA guidelines, but knowing some people who live nearby, I get the feeling some people are interested in getting more from their veterinarian. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity. Fingers crossed.

Sending you good vibes!!!

 

[scb44f]

Sending you good vibes!!!

Thanks! I'm meeting with another vet, hopefully on Monday. He and his one associate run 3 mixed practices around the area. He said if I was unable to be back this way in the near future, "we" (implying not just himself) would drive to Columbia to get to know me. Pretty incredible.

 

[that redhead]

Thanks! I'm meeting with another vet, hopefully on Monday. He and his one associate run 3 mixed practices around the area. He said if I was unable to be back this way in the near future, "we" (implying not just himself) would drive to Columbia to get to know me. Pretty incredible.

Sounds like you've got some great opportunities lining up! Good luck

 

[scb44f]

Met with the second clinic. It is run in a nontraditional way, but everyone seems nice and the owner us set on having a work life balance.

The BF found out his offer was accepted on a house! There is a fair bit of property that is usable so we will be able to raise sheep as well!

 

[that redhead]

How much (if any) do you all get charged for your pets' health stuff? Vaccines, in-house b/w, medications (either preventatives or otherwise), etc?

 

[pooter]

How much (if any) do you all get charged for your pets' health stuff? Vaccines, in-house b/w, medications (either preventatives or otherwise), etc?

I think we technically have a 75% discount on services and pay for products and meds at cost. And basic send-out blood work is free because of Reasons. For a lot of procedures, though, the doctors just end up not charging each other for their time. Which is how Problem Dog got herself a $200 upper-endo scope/foreign body removal.

 

[pooter]

I have my first round of Big Girl interviews tomorrow. And all I can think is how I'm definitely not adult enough for this level of adulting.

 

[pooter]

That was way too much adulting.

 

[scb44f]

How do you think they went, pooter?

This week has been less than great, but my last case today helped make it less ****ty.

My anemic but stable alpaca stayed the same overnight, and then acutely worsened and died an hour after the construction in the clinic, an hour after I reassessed him to be the same as the night before.

I got a...letter?... from a client today (I think I told you about the uterus that had a rent big enough to let the calf flop into the abdomen and that had avulsed from the cervix, that I did a C section on). It was scanned and sent to me and my attending on the case. On the invoice, she wrote that I had botched the surgery and that I killed her $1200 cow and how dare we charge $400 (for an emergency c section an hour away, mind you). Fortunately, my supervisor knows as well as I do that nothing about the procedure was botched, we should have charged them way more for what we did, and we got them a live calf, so she stood up for me in response.

But my last case today was a goat dystocia (small goat, 60 lbs). The woman was almost screaming at me on the phone about how I needed to get there now to do a C section because her vet friend had been trying and couldn't get it out. I said I'd come out and she asked if I'd be leaving right then. I told her no, we have to call students, but that they could meet us at the hospital to shorten the time to being seen. She agrees. They (woman, vet friend, goat) show up 40 minutes later (I told them I could be out in 45). We got her weight in case we go to c section, but I told them I was going to try to do it manually first. She scoffed and told me how they'd been trying "forever" to get the legs popped forward but that she thought we had to go to c section right then because the kid's head was completely out of the vulva. I didn't even let students feel, whereas normally I do. I cleaned, lubed, stuck my hand in, immediately flipped a leg forward and pulled. 15 seconds tops. The looks on their faces were worth every second of this week.

Tl;dr "impossible" dystocias are possible with hands that are small enough.

 

[LetItSnow]

On the invoice, she wrote that I had botched the surgery and that I killed her $1200 cow and how dare we charge $400 (for an emergency c section an hour away, mind you).

Dear god, how do you do an emergency c-section for $400?

If I get a dog dystocia with a more or less standard c-section +/- spay and hospitalize overnight.... easily $2500. More if the thing isn't doing well and needs to be hospitalized longer.

Cats I can do for maybe $1500 if they present pretty BAR since they generally recover more quickly. Don't see many cat dystocias, though, and when I do they usually have a history of pelvic trauma.

But wow. $400. Nope nope nope.

(I mean, I get it. You aren't sticking that cow on a farm in some expensively-equipped hospital and whatnot. It just.... $400 amazes me. Just the drive out and back ought to cost the owner $100.)

 

[Minnerbelle]

Cats I can do for maybe $1500 if they present pretty BAR since they generally recover more quickly. Don't see many cat dystocias, though, and when I do they usually have a history of pelvic trauma.


(I mean, I get it. You aren't sticking that cow on a farm in some expensively-equipped hospital and whatnot. It just.... $400 amazes me. Just the drive out and back ought to cost the owner $100.)

**** dude, even just a standard uncomplicated cat pyo got a $3500-4000 estimate the last time I sent one on a weekend. I so wanted to just stay late and do the damn thing myself under the table for like $2000 and keep it all.


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[LetItSnow]

**** dude, even just a standard uncomplicated cat pyo got a $3500-4000 estimate the last time I sent one on a weekend. I so wanted to just stay late and do the damn thing myself under the table for like $2000 and keep it all.


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Holy crap. $3500-$4500? Was the cat, like, dying? I usually quote out quite a bit higher for pyos than dystocias, just because systemically they aren't doing as well and tend to need more hospitalization. For dogs, anyway.

The very first cat pyo I ever saw I ... well, I didn't really have context. The poor Banfield vet called me looking for a quote for a BAR cat with a suspected pyo. She did everything right - called ahead, wanted a quote to give her clients so they didn't show up and get sticker shock, etc. I quoted her out for what we'd typically quote a dog pyo: $3000-$4000 or so. She got quiet, but didn't chew me out and politely said thanks. Kudos to her for being professional in the face of my n00b stupidity.

Her clients show up, they pay the deposit. I cut the cat, it's eating and bouncing and wants to go home 3 hours later. $1500 or something like that.

I felt like such an ass. Thank goodness the clients didn't run away from my stupid estimate. On the positive side, hopefully the clients were happy with their $1500 refund on the $3000 deposit. 🙂

 

[DVMDream]

On the positive side, hopefully the clients were happy with their $1500 refund on the $3000 deposit. 🙂

Always easier to go "Hey, your bill is actually cheaper than our estimate!" Than to be, "Well, we didn't quite give you a big enough estimate, you still owe us $1000"... 😉

 

[LetItSnow]

Always easier to go "Hey, your bill is actually cheaper than our estimate!" Than to be, "Well, we didn't quite give you a big enough estimate, you still owe us $1000"... 😉

Absolutely true! But you also don't want to end up not being able to treat an animal because you over-estimated and discouraged the owners.

 

[DVMDream]

Absolutely true! But you also don't want to end up not being able to treat an animal because you over-estimated and discouraged the owners.

Oh yeah, definitely. Definitely saw that a few times one clinics as well. Have to have a nice balance between the two.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Holy crap. $3500-$4500? Was the cat, like, dying? I usually quote out quite a bit higher for pyos than dystocias, just because systemically they aren't doing as well and tend to need more hospitalization. For dogs, anyway.

Nope, uncomplicated BAR pus at the vulva cat. Like I prob would have felt comfortable cutting and sending the cat home as an outpatient if it came down to it.

It you want really crazy though, see some estimates from private specialty hospitals in San Francisco. Your eyes will proptose.


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[scb44f]

Nope, uncomplicated BAR pus at the vulva cat. Like I prob would have felt comfortable cutting and sending the cat home as an outpatient if it came down to it.

It you want really crazy though, see some estimates from private specialty hospitals in San Francisco. Your eyes will proptose.

My sister lives in SF and I never even thought about what a vet bill would be like if she had pets there. Makes me somewhat nauseous.

I didn't do the bill for that visit. It definitely should have been more for that c section. I can look up some other c sections and tell you what they came to sans travel/emergency fee. I've only done 2 cows, one pig and one goat. The goat we got out for 400 as well on haul in ER. Pig was 900 w/ hospitalization and death 36 hrs later (also haul in ER)

 

[Jamr0ckin]

For you guys that went into private practice/GP straight out school... How do you pick what type of loan repayment plan you want? Is the VIN calculator pretty accurate for guesstimating your payment amount? UT decides that you don't really need to know anything about loans after graduation. They talk to us before 4th year about budgeting, but nothing is said after that.

 

[that redhead]

For you guys that went into private practice/GP straight out school... How do you pick what type of loan repayment plan you want? Is the VIN calculator pretty accurate for guesstimating your payment amount? UT decides that you don't really need to know anything about loans after graduation. They talk to us before 4th year about budgeting, but nothing is said after that.

Honestly, I have no idea/I didn't pick anything. There is a section for my loans called "Manage Repayment" where you can get IBR and PAYE and such, but I put my entire paycheck toward my loans every two weeks (my husband supports us). For some reason my loan website thinks I'm still in school(?) so I haven't actually had anything being like hey, this is what you owe this month. Then again, I do make a payment every two weeks, so maybe if I stopped paying it would trigger it? It's confusing.

 

[pooter]

How do you think they went, pooter?

Okay, I guess? I feel like I jumped/stumbled over the first hurdle for most of these places. I remain deeply uncomfortable with the idea of saying nice things about myself, though, and the whole Compensation Question can put me into a cold sweat. I was put in the position of quoting a number for the first time, and after I finally managed to stammer it out, the interviewer got very quiet, shook his head sadly, and said "Oh, no . . . you're going to get much more than that . . ."

 

[scb44f]

I texted one of the vets I met with about a job, and said that I was really interested and excited to meet his wife and get to know them. He texted me today and said he couldn't explain how excited he is. He said he was planning on giving me a large budget (he gave a number that I won't repeat) for the first year, and that he knows of another large amount's worth of updates that he will invest in as far as equipment. At the end, he said all of his resources would be at my disposal. Gosh, I am nervous it won't be as good as it seems, but it'll be a good start regardless! No formal offer or acceptance, but I have a feeling it's coming once I meet his wife.