NEW GRADUATE SURVIVAL MANUAL
HOW WILL I FIT IN?
We're here to help you find your place.
The staff and doctors of a veterinary practice are members of an established team. Every team has its own dynamics, quirks, and even language!
Try to observe how your new hospital has adapted to tricky situations and patients. Your new team members probably have great ways of helping you deal with your cases without the equipment or drugs you thought you needed but remember to ask for help in a non-critical manner. For example: “What does Dr Boss use to check an ear for foxtails?” instead of “How am I supposed to look in this ear without a video-otoscope?” Techs can be an awesome support system; take a few days to learn the specific language of your new support team. Those team members will be essential to your success!
Mentees and newly hired veterinarians, what do you hope to learn from your boss/mentor? Each day, as you drive in to work, think through the things you appreciate most from your colleague. Be ready to verbally compliment them for techniques and technologies they are adding to your bag of tricks and ask for the specific guidance you will need during the day. Remember; great communications skills are like butter and salt — they make everything better!
You will need to find your way into this group with respect and courtesy. Although you will outrank support staff in terms of education and responsibility, you may be near the bottom of the practice’s social order. Many employees have been there for years and know the ins and outs of the clinic and clients. They can be an excellent source of help and advice. Most staff respond favorably to simple courtesy and appreciate recognition of their hard earned knowledge and experience via your requests for their advice and help, as well as your “thanks” for a job well done. You worked hard to gain your degree, but it does not grant you instant credibility and respect. Respect must be earned by being a competent and courteous team player.
Clients, for the most part, will be respectful of your degree, but remember many long-term clients feel they have a personal relationship with more senior colleagues. They may insist on having another veterinarian see their animal, and this can be hurtful. Even more unpleasant, they may repeat everything you told them to a senior veterinarian or technician. This can make you feel they didn’t believe or understand anything you told them. As hard as it is, try not to take this personally; they may be just talking to an “old friend” or want some assurance from the people they know. They don’t know you yet, but they want the best for their animal. You’re new, and they trust the doctor they have already built a relationship with. Soon, they’ll be asking for you, especially if you are honest and caring in your approach.
Make sure the clients know you as a person, then they are more apt to treat you like one.
Knowing you as a person doesn’t mean ignoring boundaries though! Over time you may decide you want to relax certain boundaries, either as a whole or for certain clients. That’s a decision you can make then, but don’t feel pressured to provide personal contact information or accept social media follow requests. Focus on sharing your personality and you as a person during the appointment to start building that relationship.
Jealousies and personality conflicts lead to a miserable working environment. You can avoid these situations by being friendly but neutral and staying out of work conflicts unless you are directly involved. If you think a staff member has some animosity toward you, talk to them politely but directly and try to understand what you might be doing to cause these feelings and how you might work together to correct the problem. Be accountable for any responsibility you have in the conflict, you’re still learning how to communicate with your new team in your new role! One idea is to talk to whoever handles HR about any procedures and policies. When should conflicts be documented? When should HR be invited to mediate a conflict? Knowing these things can help you feel more comfortable navigating conflicts that arise.