Medivet new graduate programme

I first heard about Medivet's new graduate programme at a vet school careers fair. It was a horrible rainy day, and after a long day of lectures all I wanted to do was to go home. I mean, how do you think about a job when you haven't even sat your exams? My options were limited by my ‘small animal only’ and ‘in London’ rules. Medivet was one of the few available opportunities, so I grabbed some literature and got out of there.

Once I'd had time to research various options (I had realised that I did actually have to think about a job after qualifying), I was very taken with what they had to offer. The company seemed to have a strong focus on continued support and learning, and this prompted me to apply to its Graduate Support Programme. I have now worked for them for two years and the support I have received has been fantastic.

When starting as a new vet with Medivet you proceed in one of two ways, both of which were discussed with me in detail at my interview. There is a three- to six-month residency programme, or a three-week induction period before becoming a ‘floating’ vet (my chosen route). The first two weeks are spent at a branch shadowing a partner (who becomes your ‘buddy’ for the duration of your time at the company); this is followed by a week at one of the 24-hour continuous care centres. ‘Floating’ involves covering branch partners' holidays and days off, with the rest of the time spent in the 24-hour centres.
 

"The first two weeks are spent at a branch shadowing your buddy"

I spent two weeks shadowing Marta Sanchez at the Stanstead Abbotts practice. It wasn't all that different from extramural studies, with the opportunity to observe consultations and surgeries and also travelling with her to home visits, as well as going to the 24-hour centre if any of our cases required overnight care. I also needed to master the computer system, which I'm sure anybody at a new practice dreads. During my two weeks with Marta we discussed everything we did; she gave me tips on time management and explained the trickier cases she was dealing with. You learn so much at university but, funnily enough, as a new graduate, what you aren't familiar with are the basics. Observing vaccination consults, dealing with euthanasias and even discussing flea control options, as a vet, rather than a vet student, helps massively to solidify the knowledge hidden under a lot of nerves.

Following my two weeks with Marta, I was placed at the Enfield 24-hour centre for another week to complete my training. Here I learnt how the emergency and critical care system worked in more detail, and began to carry out my own consultations and routine procedures. What was great, as a new graduate, was the availability of other vets. For example, what size suture material did I need to close a cat spay? I soon perfected the art of popping out of the consulting room ‘for a thermometer or stethoscope’ and hunting down a vet for advice on the case I was dealing with. Throughout my week, I was in frequent communication with Marta, and she made sure I was coping, getting my lunch and holding mini tutorials on the cases I was dealing with (these sessions continue even now, as the buddy system continues for as long as you need or want it).

I was definitely nervous when I had finished my introductory weeks and was travelling to other practices. However, I had been prepared with:

• A bit more confidence than if I had gone straight into a more traditional practice
   
• Some more information and guidance on basic veterinary medicine
   
• A ‘go to’ list of phone numbers if I needed help

Once I was floating, I was working in a combination of sole and team charge positions. My buddy was available at the end of a phone or in person if required, and we had structured fortnightly meetings as well as lots of informal ones. The structured meetings featured three cases that I felt had gone well and three cases that I had either struggled with or didn't understand fully. They were like mini tutorials and I found them particularly helpful. I was asked to log my surgical experience as I went along (which I was doing for my Professional Development Phase anyway) and summarise this in e-mail form to a senior partner every month or so. If I wasn't getting enough stitch-ups or bitch spays done, then every effort would be made to get in contact with me if such cases were admitted at another branch so that I could gain experience as quickly as possible. I was encouraged to check other branches' surgery lists and invite myself along to perform or observe the surgeries, and I quickly had a number of bitch spays under my belt, something I had been concerned about before starting work. Along with the surgical summaries, I was also asked to assess my buddy so that any problems were sorted out quickly (not that I ever had any).

After 14 months of floating, I was offered a permanent position at the Enfield 24-hour centre, where I have now worked for almost a year. I still see Marta all the time, but it is a lot less formal now and we chat and discuss cases just as any other colleagues would. The buddy structure made things so much easier for me, and I would definitely recommend it for any new vet or anyone returning to work after a break.