Vet Times

Tag: exams

  • Testing times: reliving the exam nightmare

    Testing times: reliving the exam nightmare

    —

    by

    Remind me why I’m doing this? I swore I’d never put myself through it again. Amid the bittersweet feelings at the end of my veterinary degree – sadness I’d never pass time in quite the same way with many of my fellow students again, nervousness about a suddenly unplanned future (I’d known exactly what I…

  • The messiness of medicine

    The messiness of medicine

    —

    by

    My career has taken a very academic turn recently; I’m now a resident in clinical pathology, after (mutter mutter) years in general practice. It’s been a huge change and enormously interesting, and one of the things that has surprised me greatly (and said with caution, given I have general pathology exams looming) is how much…

  • Should you employ a new grad?

    Should you employ a new grad?

    —

    by

    Kele Harris

    This weekend, I helped out with a talk at SPVS-VMG Congress on employing new graduates. It gave delegates – vets, VNs, employers and new grads themselves – the opportunity to reflect on how wildly different each new grad’s experience can be, and appreciate the challenges employers face when hiring new grads. The fact those in…

  • Enjoy what you can when you can – it’s not a competition

    Enjoy what you can when you can – it’s not a competition

    —

    by

    Dan Amos

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’m not always the biggest fan of Christmas. Not from a religious point of view (everyone needs a birthday), but from the social pressure point of view. So, for the 2017 Christmas message from #planetrvn, I want to say this is for everyone who doesn’t…

  • If only they could talk

    If only they could talk

    —

    by

    “It must be so difficult,” the old woman says, as I listen to her cat’s chest. As ever, this puts me in the awkward position of either taking the stethoscope out of my ears and interrupting my clinical exam, or politely ignoring her so I can listen. As usual, I opt for the third, least…

  • In at the deep end

    In at the deep end

    —

    by

    Kele Harris

    Being a new grad is scary. And, although I don’t think I’ve been dropped in the deep end as much as some of my colleagues may have, I feel entirely overwhelmed the majority of the time and question several times a day whether I actually went to uni. Starting in practice has made me realise…

  • An abbreviation too far?

    An abbreviation too far?

    —

    by

    Dan Amos

    We love an abbreviation in the veterinary world. CBA, RTA, TTA – just hopefully not all on the same patient, or all at the same time. To laypeople, medical notes must seem like another language. Therefore, it’s no surprise, when said laypeople request access to their records, that these notes rarely hold the answer. So…

  • New vet schools are not the solution

    New vet schools are not the solution

    —

    by

    Kele Harris

    We’ve barely had a day of news in the past year that didn’t include Brexit. Yet, do any of us really know what the real consequences will be? Within the veterinary profession, specific factors are undoubtedly going to be influenced by Brexit, even if we don’t know the extent of these yet. They do, however,…

  • The gender pay gap – don’t put up with it

    The gender pay gap – don’t put up with it

    —

    by

    Kele Harris

    I used to consider myself a bit of an anti-feminist – but before the majority of the profession tear strips off me, let me explain… There are a number of very strongly opinionated feminists around – on your Facebook feed, in the news and also friends or colleagues – you know the type; those who…

  • Preconceptions

    Preconceptions

    —

    by

    Kele Harris

    Many preconceptions about the veterinary profession exist, with many of us having heard the old “is that seven years of training?” or “vets are all loaded” comments (cue eye roll). But what about on a personal level? Now I’ve finished vet school and passed (yippee!), I’ve been faced with a couple of misconceptions when I’ve…