Vet Times

Tag: Stress

  • OSCE alternatives?

    OSCE alternatives?

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    by

    Dan Amos

    Any education process has always been in a state of change; it’s the one thing you can guarantee. While I know this causes stress, it’s worth focusing on what the educational process is aiming to achieve. In particular, with OSCEs, its aim is to ensure you are a safe and competent practitioner – for you,…

  • Covideo killed the radio star

    Covideo killed the radio star

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    by

    Dan Amos

    While I try and keep these blogs as supportive, informative and educational as possible (I promise I do!), sometimes a little fun is required. During lockdown I marvelled as my clinical colleagues stepped up to continue providing for our patients, and I know this has been hard – shifts extended, clients more stress than usual,…

  • Connection: steps five and six

    Connection: steps five and six

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    The right intentions, a friendly smile, a warm introduction and appropriate touch – four easy ways to help you foster connection with your clients, as described in the previous post. This part will look at two more common-sense strategies to help you forge fast bonds with your clients and ensure problem-free consults: finding common ground with your…

  • The borrowers?

    The borrowers?

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    by

    Dan Amos

    Having written on what I see as the perils of the popularity of “borrowing” pets via apps and websites, I was saddened to see that, with the COVID-19 puppy boom, these are now being seen as a “normal” alternative to doggy day care. A sad narrative of puppy farm dogs with behavioural issues and ill…

  • Connection: steps one to four

    Connection: steps one to four

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    In the previous post I told you about my mnemonic to help me remember the seven tools we can use to help us connect with our clients: IS IT CHE(esy). Intention, Smile, Introduction, Touch, Common ground, Humour and Empathy. Let’s look at the first four. Setting your Intentions Is it easy to always be the kind…

  • The person behind the grades

    The person behind the grades

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    This year has thrown a lot of annual landmarks into disarray, and A-levels were no exception; my heart went out to all the students this month whose results days did not go entirely to planned. It has been three years since I went, heart in mouth, to receive my own dreaded envelope. Even when I’d…

  • Feline fine in lockdown

    Feline fine in lockdown

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    by

    Kele Harris

    Since the start of lockdown, I’ve been seeing a lot of cats in practice – not that I’m complaining, as a self-confessed “crazy cat lady”. A lot of these cases have been geriatric cats – many of which presented with chronic vomiting or reduced food intake (with various aetiologies). However, when we tore through our…

  • What about vets on the front line?

    What about vets on the front line?

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    by

    Kele Harris

    Our profession is generally pretty good at pulling together in the face of adversity. I’ve always loved the community feel of being able to go to CPD events, and usually know someone, or have connections with someone, who is there. I love being able to send a message to my uni friends at any time…

  • Nurse pets

    Nurse pets

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    by

    Dan Amos

    After my recent blog about Ebony, I’m here to be brave and say that I’m single. In every way, I am foot loose and fancy free. For the first time in 16 years I have no pets. Ebony and I had been a little team since early last year, and now it’s just me. It…

  • Commonly held beliefs that don’t do us any good, pt 3

    Commonly held beliefs that don’t do us any good, pt 3

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    Belief #3: Vet science is much harder than other jobs You’ve heard those conversations where vets pontificate about the injustice of their lot in life and their poor career choices. We love to share stories about old acquaintances who are invariably less talented and not nearly as smart as us (we’re vets after all – the…