How can I make my working day better?

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Julie Innes — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:10:46 GMT

Sole charge nearly wore me out. You have no idea how much just having someone to discuss cases/ xrays with etc takes away some of the worry and pressure. I take it you consult and operate in the same room, if you can't have someone operating and someone consulting at the same time? It's well worth getting an overhaul to save your sanity. I decided money really wasn't everything. I have a husband and kids and my stress and bad moods were beginning to impact on them - not good for anyone. I now have not only my part-time vet but also 2 part-time VNs, as well as my full time VN. The people make the practice, not the premises, so important they are happy and not too stressed (although it still happens!) I've taken some time off this week, which costs a fair bit in terms of locum cover, but I'm happy and about to sit down and watch a movie with the kids. What is the point of making money if you don't have the time or energy to spend it?! Do you have a partner and does he/she work? I have the benefit of not being the sole wage earner, but I appreciate money could be much more of a worry if you are. Glad to hear you are looking at ways to move forward!

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Bob Russell — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 13:00:26 GMT

Much better and much more positive!

Put up the prices so you can afford a practice makeover. It will bring extra pride to everyone. A good nurse (qualified or experienced other) is worth their weight in gold.

Single handed practices can feel very lonely without knowledgeable staff to help out.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

An On MRCVS — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:24:08 GMT

Hi all, OP here again.

Business has continued to be brisk but I've made myself feel slightly better by increasing prices so at least I'm getting more for what I do! Short term solution but it's helping for now.

I've been thinking about this a lot and have more or less decided that a part time vet would be the biggest asset to the business but I need to overhaul my premises before this can become possible. This is possible, but time-consuming, so won't happen for a bit but at least it gives me something to focus on long term.

For now, I've decided to take on a locum VN. I don't have a VN at the moment so I'm hoping that if I can pass a lot of my suture removals and anal gland appointments to her then it will free up time for me. I can make this work without too much difficulty but it should have a positive impact on my working day.

Jackie, thank you for your comment. It sounds like you're about as worn out as I am, probably moreso as I don't have to worry about children. Don't you feel it's not much of a life as things stand? I really want to work to live, not vice versa, but an hour with family before bedtime does not fit with that. I can PM you if you prefer but do you have a longer term plan to try and reduce the long hours? Are you in a position to take on staff? I've had my practice for five years also and never intended to increase beyond sole charge but I'm starting to see the logic in doing so!

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:42:19 GMT

[quote user="Jackie Tollerfield"]

I'm not sure i will help much other than to speak to someone in exactly the same position.

I am sole charge in a practice I took over 5 years ago. Working 6 days/week, finishing at 7pm mon-fri getting home for 7.30pm, putting kids to bed, eating at 9pm then sitting down for 60min before bed.

Where are you? I'm in Birmingham.

[/quote]

I did that for about 3 years, then wore out...you have my sympathies!

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Jackie Tollerfield — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:52:44 GMT

I'm not sure i will help much other than to speak to someone in exactly the same position.

Where are you? I'm in Birmingham.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:02:17 GMT

Interestingly, I'm locumming in a single handed practice that I last came to a few months ago when it was busy busy busy.

I walked in and was greeted by another vet.

What a difference it has made.

The new vet deals with the lab results and other daily paperwork, and I feel we have time to deal with cases

The boss who I am replacing also has added in a few earlier finishes, so work life balance is better

What is interesting is that work hasn't halved, we are both reasonably busy. It's almost as if there was a pent up demand waiting for availability, so the change wasn't as severe as you would think.

Neil

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Julie Innes — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:41:15 GMT

Should also have said, may be worth a trip to your doctor too. As vets we seem to hate to ask for help, but all the stress plus your recent bereavement may well have left your serotonin levels a bit low. I used to be a bit sceptical of "happy pills", but a good friend of mine went onto anti-depressants (someone who I would have never have thought of as depressed, very dynamic and capable lawyer) and said it was amazing the difference they made, just giving her space to sort herself out, then back off them once things on a more even keel.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Julie Innes — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 00:37:16 GMT

How long have you had the practice, anon? I set up 4 years ago and it's only now, with a better handle on the paperwork, better use of nurses and a lovely part-time vet that I feel I can breathe! We recently got very busy and everything got a bit manic and stressy, so I closed our client list, which ironically seems to have added to our reputation, as we have folk begging to come, and it is the talk of the park! (People always seem to want what they can't have!) I also ditch all the non payers, they get a letter saying we have removed them from the list, as I found trying to keep on top of overdue accounts was a real pain. You really have to look after yourself. I have been exactly where you are and it was horrible. I found I got better at organising myself and the staff, and things run more smoothly now!

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Wren — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 08:58:04 GMT

[quote user="grumpyoldman"] Far more time lost through fake illness and truancy in the worst parts of the state sector [/quote]

Ex state sector pupil here who had a 38% attendance record in the last two years of school. And most of the 38% were the days I went to registration, then walked straight out again and got the bus home. Never pretended to be ill, mind you....

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Anthony Todd — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:33:39 GMT

LA practioners think anything smaller than a pig is a parasite. [old, I know]

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:32:31 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]....with the proviso that the parents do the work the teachers would have done[/quote]And how many are capable/motivated to do that?

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 13:39:40 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Agree 100%. Used to miss school for holidays as a kid and it was quite normal. I could see the current rules being applicable to maybe 14+ kids doing GCSEs or A-levels, but not further down.

I too did alright for myself

[/quote]

Well you might have been, but as Gillian has pointed out your classmates wouldn't. When you came back did you not once stick your hand up or ask a question to your teacher, whilst the rest of the class yawned/fell asleep/lost teaching time.

We've just had a daughter miss a term with scoliosis and she has needed extra tuition, but we did this at home and teachers sent her work at home for her to do and bless her, she managed a A in core science having missed a terms work out of 3. This is a case maybe for taking up a bit of extra time, but not for a child deliberately taken out, though I will concede that year 5 could be the cut of point with the proviso that the parents do the work the teachers would have done

Neil

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 09:53:33 GMT

I never had holidays in school time and my children have never have either. The fact that Mrs A was a headteacher of course meant the latter was impossible anyway but she also saw the disruption it caused first hand. Maybe (as far as you're aware at least) it didn't do you any harm Michael but there are many, many more who are not as bright it may affect.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 00:01:26 GMT

[quote user="grumpyoldman"]never did me any harm

Another example of too much of the wrong kind of over regulation and nanny state meddling. [/quote]

Agree 100%. Used to miss school for holidays as a kid and it was quite normal. I could see the current rules being applicable to maybe 14+ kids doing GCSEs or A-levels, but not further down.

I too did alright for myself.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Anthony Todd — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 23:53:33 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]it is no big deal [/quote]

Re bookwork, But it may be that the OP finds this a pain and has nobody to help?[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I did start using Sage accounting software[/quote]

Yeah, I can't go past Excel but, again, it may be that this is a stressor for the OP

RE: How can I make my working day better?

grumpyoldman — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 23:45:09 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]Sorry...off tangent! [/quote]

Your right headteacher is probably a more appropriate term. I do remember going on holidays with parents in term time , 2 weeks ,from high school , never did me any harm ,right upto O levels .I always took my kids skiing the week before half term in February, costs halved did not seem to do them any harm. Another example of too much of the wrong kind of over regulation and nanny state meddling. If your kids are under performing or doing badly then its probably not a good idea to take them out. But if the end of year performances are good and they are achieving well I do not see why they should be deprived of holidays with parents. Its just about allowing people to use their own common sense and discretion, the solution as usual is to deny everyone because a few do not appear to have any.

Far more time lost through fake illness and truancy in the worst parts of the state sector

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 21:06:36 GMT

[quote user="grumpyoldman"]the headmasters seem to have become very anal about taking holidays in term time, which is puzzling when you think they are quite happy to deposit 14 and 15 year olds in our businesses randomly for a week of propping up a wall while endlessly texting their boyfriend of the day???. [/quote]

2 small points: the first is that women are allowed to be headteachers these days, you know!

Secondly, and more seriously, the reason out-of-holiday holidays is so disruptive is because 'your' child isn't the only child in the class!! If everyone takes holidays whenever they want, then there will always be a couple of children off school...so the teacher is constantly helping those children play 'catch-up' with what they've missed - which will be a lot of work if they missed 2 weeks!!!! Extremely disruptive for everyone else!

(Work experience is different - all children off school at the same time!)

Sorry...off tangent!

RE: How can I make my working day better?

grumpyoldman — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:44:48 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]I think the holiday thing is very individual. I actually get more stressed by being on a lazy holiday than working. 2 weeks at a time turns me stir crazy.[/quote]

Your right I only go one week at a time skiing , end of jan , France in May ,possibly somewhere warm end of September, trying to overcome the stress of the next V4P opening in a bus shelter across the road with an extra week somewhere, its more tricky these days for people with school age kids ,the headmasters seem to have become very anal about taking holidays in term time, which is puzzling when you think they are quite happy to deposit 14 and 15 year olds in our businesses randomly for a week of propping up a wall while endlessly texting their boyfriend of the day???. The important thing is having something booked and on the horizon all the time. Most normal clients ,the ones worth having are fine about it.

Get a book keeper ,teach them to use SAGE , keep the practice software for running the practice. SAGE will give you interim management accounts to keep your finger on the pulse ,decide what you can spend and how to tweak things.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:32:48 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]Martin, who does your VAT returns, wages and all the other admin? [/quote]I do it. It is no big deal if you stay on top of it and that is the secret, don't let it get on top of you. PAYE is a doddle nowadays anyway with Basic Tools RTI software.

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]Have you got practice software or are you still on cards? [/quote]Not sure what you mean here but the clinical records, invoicing, daily financial reconcilliation etc are on the PMS but all my financial records are on paper and in old fashioned ledgers with receipts in box files. I find it easier and the accountant prefers it. I keep meticulous records (you forget I'm a control freak) and I could find any transaction or receipt from any year that hasn't yet been archived in the loft in less time that it takes to boot the computer. I did start using Sage accounting software but actually found it harder than keeping paper records plus it can't go tits up when the computer crashes.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Anthony Todd — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:29:14 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]I think the holiday thing is very individual. I actually get more stressed by being on a lazy holiday than working. 2 weeks at a time turns me stir crazy.[/quote]

Yeah, me too, hated holidays [until I discovered bright birds]

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Anthony Todd — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 17:18:51 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]]It just goes to show how we all differ. Being on my own and making all the decisions is what I craved and I would be stressed if I had to share or confer. One man's sharing and conferring is another man's meddling and interference.[/quote]

Martin, who does your VAT returns, wages and all the other admin? That, to me, is a real pain, essential but non-vet and therefore stressful.

Have you got practice software or are you still on cards? The OP didn't answer that.

Hopefully if we bash the subject for long enough the OP may get something helpful.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 15:44:49 GMT

[quote user="grumpyoldman"]Allow at least 3 preferably four weeks holiday per year ,factor that into your costs. With one day a month CPD/study day. [/quote]And if you go on Congress in the Snow, Snowscene or any of the other activity or overseas based CPD courses you can do both at the same time!

I think the holiday thing is very individual. I actually get more stressed by being on a lazy holiday than working. 2 weeks at a time turns me stir crazy.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

grumpyoldman — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 15:25:26 GMT

You have to make enough money when your working to be able to enjoy yourself when you are not. So take up golf ,sailing or cycling.

If you do not have at least two people a day grumbling about the bill ,your not charging enough.Ignore them they are trying to turn their problem into your problem , if they succeed they will will not loose any sleep over jumping ship while your in the funny farm recovering.

Allow at least 3 preferably four weeks holiday per year ,factor that into your costs. With one day a month CPD/study day.

The jump from 1 to 2 is always the biggest step, choose carefully and wisely.

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:40:05 GMT

I haven't treated a cow in anger for 15 years unfortunately, all these are single handed SA practices where the spouse/partner lends a hand.

There's too much to know now to return, though did have a tremendous grounding in Devon/Somerst where saw pretty much everything from Fog Fever to Red Water over 6 hectic years. Interestingly though I came from a dairy farm and was one of the few at college who wanted to do large animals only. What destroyed my confidence were 2 vets (and one was a school friend!!) who basically accused me of being incompetent because I wouldn't admit to be able to manually PD a cow at 6 weeks (pre scanners) with 100% confidence. In reality from college I'd probably done more PD's than anyone else. In one case I left the practice, as for the school friend I've never spoken to him again.

Neil

RE: How can I make my working day better?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 11:43:00 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]the last 4 single handed practices I have worked in have ALL relied on a partner. They are either employed as receptionist or come in and do admin. [/quote]Ah but are they large animal practices Neil? - maybe a bit different for SA practice. Anyway, I'm too much of a control freak to delegate even the admin. And I'd rather employ a veterinary assistant than have my wife interfering. My previous remarks on that possibility shows my level of enthusiasm for the second scenario!!