Life after Veterinary School

[haley120892]

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Hello all!

I am looking for some tips on life after vet school. I just graduated this year and will be starting this Monday at a small animal private practice back in my home state of Pennsylvania! I am both excited and nervous. I chose this practice for a number of reasons and feel that I have an amazing team who is willing to mentor me, but I am still looking for some helpful tips! In other words what do you wish you had known prior to starting off?


Thanks a bunch!
Haley

 

[Minnerbelle]

Do you already have your license and personal liability insurance? If you do, damn... your state’s got its **** together. If not, no matter what anyone at that practice tells you, unless it’s explicitly in your practice act otherwise, you cannot do anything that lay support staff isn’t allowed to do. Do not start seeing appointments, diagnosing things, prescribing things, or performing surgery even if your boss says you’re “covered by the practice’s insurance.”

If you do not have malpractice insurance with board defense, I would NOT do any of the above. And you cannot get insurance without a license.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Along those lines, don’t ever let anyone be in charge of your liability insurance. You pay for it yourself and renew it yourself. Have the practice reimburse you.

 

[haley120892]

Do you already have your license and personal liability insurance? If you do, damn... your state’s got its **** together. If not, no matter what anyone at that practice tells you, unless it’s explicitly in your practice act otherwise, you cannot do anything that lay support staff isn’t allowed to do. Do not start seeing appointments, diagnosing things, prescribing things, or performing surgery even if your boss says you’re “covered by the practice’s insurance.”

If you do not have malpractice insurance with board defense, I would NOT do any of the above. And you cannot get insurance without a license.

I have everything approved and received for my license. I was actually shocked as usually my state is not the fastest when it comes to these things. I am working on the insurance end as well. The first week is more of an orientation, mainly because of the lack of my license.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I have everything approved and received for my license. I was actually shocked as usually my state is not the fastest when it comes to these things. I am working on the insurance end as well. The first week is more of an orientation, mainly because of the lack of my license.

Damn, it took foooorever for my state!

 

[CalliopeDVM]

what do you wish you had known prior to starting off?

I wish I'd known that it's OK to say "I don't know" to the client.......to tell them that I need to do a little more research and will call them later that day with more info, or even to excuse myself from the room for a minute to check on something. ......That clients actually appreciate that you care enough to verify the information. I was so nervous about trying to look look like I wasn't a newbie, that I thought they'd expect me to know everything, but they really don't.