'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Jill Butterworth — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 09:18:34 GMT

Have you thought about nursing instead as a way back into the cut and thrust of profession without the same level of responsibility and you could still earn something? Maybe chose a practice slightly out of your area. For example, out of hours work is an amazing way to get condensed, exciting experience, where you will feel you are really making a difference, and you will likely be able to practice your minor skills like catheterisation and bloods. You will also see how these buzzed up vets handle the human side of things and multi task. Work or volunteer for a few weekends and you will feel back into the swing no time. Don't ever worry that you don't know everything, that's what books are for. And should you find you love this work, you can dip in and out, and chose your own lifestyle. I feel I learned most at night when I first qualified, as everyone else was tucked up in bed and I just had to make decisions, but the practice was calm and quiet. I'm not saying I wasn't stressed, because I was working a full-on daytime job too, but if emergency work had actually been a specialism back then, it would have suited me to go off home to bed, having done my best and handing the cases over to fully conscious vets.

Good luck.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

grumpyoldman — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 21:01:44 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]I agree with Seadna. Nasty "colleagues" in your 1st job, who are massaging their own fragile egos by keeping down someone lower on the ladder are the absolute pits.[/quote]

Its true personality clashes can be tricky if there is also back biting , sometimes people just do not get on. You sometimes find that personality types that would not have shared the same friend group at university will probably not get on well together outside it, the party animal socialite types can sometimes pick on the quieter geek types. So its up to the management or boss to see it and deal with it.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

elizabethellison — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 20:55:37 GMT

I've been in a similar situation to you. I spent some time seeing practice at the PDSA, which was fantastic. I eventually worked for them and it suited me a lot better than private practice. I also found working part time kept me sane and reduced the anxiety. The RVC did some great 'return to work' 1 day courses in London, not sure if they still do those. Good luck.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 08:31:57 GMT

I agree with Seadna. Nasty "colleagues" in your 1st job, who are massaging their own fragile egos by keeping down someone lower on the ladder are the absolute pits.

Wynne

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

SMcelvaney — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:53:27 GMT

Sorry, posted too soon by accident. meant to say worked at a busy charity practice for years, and it was the norm to have post grad vets helping out. They tended to stay 2-4 months, and would really improve by the end of their stay. As they were volunteering as such, they had flexibility with the days they worked etc. I would definitely recommend it.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

SMcelvaney — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 21:48:15 GMT

I recommend approaching charities too. A busy workload with less owner pressure can work in your favour, as you will be able to do more on a practical level, rather than just "see" practice. I worked at a bust charity practice for years, and it was the

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Seadna — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 17:58:44 GMT

Hey Anon, don't be so hard on yourself . I almost lost a dear friend two years ago because he spiralled into the dark hole that you are trying to pull yourself out of. Why do you feel like a crap vet? You went to uni, you passed all those exams, you are a smart person and you are very capable, even if you don't feel like it at the moment. You've had a loss of confidence - maybe you lost a few animals, maybe you aren't up to speed compared to your classmates, maybe you took it too easy during EMS and your first-day skills weren't great? OR, maybe you had the misfortune to work for (or with) an utter, utter dickhead who belittled you at every turn, made you feel useless and piled pressure on.

Whatever the reason, stop referring to yourself as a bad vet. YOU PASSED ALL THOSE EXAMS, same as all the other seemingly confident colleagues around you (by the way, some of them are only pretending to be confident). All the knowledge is in your head somewhere, and all the skills are just one or two sessions of practicing away from being in your fingers.

Not sure where I was going with this but just wanted to give you a reality check that you are perfectly capable of doing this job. Maybe you could have a think back to what was making you anxious and work on changing those circumstances in your next job, or finding a way to cope with them. For my friend, it was dickhead boss who put him under too much pressure so in the end, he left that job. That twang of anxiety at hearing the phone ring middle of the night while I'm on duty is something that I still feel actually.

Anyway, feel better and good luck in finding a good practice to work for!

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Noweia — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:43:52 GMT

I am dealing with depression and anxiety at the moment, feel free to PM me for a chat!

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 12:32:19 GMT

Arlo - I'm not even sure you need the categories. It's not that different in reality. You can already search the RCVS 'find a vet' database for EMS practices.

It might be worth speaking to VDS and Vet Helpline people and seeing if there was a simple, workable solution to cover insurance. I don't think it is an issue if they are continually supervised, but becomes so if they do anything on their own. This does need clarification.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 08:01:10 GMT

This makes me think. I wonder if there would be a place on VetSurgeon.org for a directory of practices that have indicated that they are happy and able to allow colleagues to come and "see practice" in a variety of different scenarios:

students / new grads
recovery from illness, either mental or physical
after a period of absence (childbirth or for any other reason).

Perhaps combined with a VS scheme which provides short term insurance cover.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

grumpyoldman — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 21:25:13 GMT

We have had lots of post grad vets from Greece Spain and Italy come to "see practice" and gain basic skills before they go off on the locum trail. Nothing wrong with it at all ,in fact far better than just get an MRCVS sign up with an agency and turn up day1 with zilch experience in anything ,something I have also seen a few times in the past.

Hope you feel better soon ,most people just want to help if possible.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

David Mills — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 18:20:39 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

Charities must be a good starting point with vets that are more concerned with animal health than last months turnover.

Also you'll get a lot of routine surgery, which increases confidence and skill, and if you ask, the best at it are the ones most likely to give the best help.

[/quote]

Yep I agree (shoot me down with a feather).

Here at the RSPCA we do have vets coming in to get their hands dirty again after career breaks for all sorts of reasons. Because of our large stray caseload there is less of a requirement for being finished by a certain time or bowing to owner demands. We've had vets happily come in and spay cats and dogs for a week or longer and also do bloods, xrays and the like. Although it can be manic this need not concern you as the other vets will pick up the rest and are happy to have routine things done for them. Equally happy to have you scrub in or assist for more complicated ops. There is actually usually little time pressure.

We've hospitals in London, Birmingham and Manchester if that helps. Feel free to pm for more details.

Oh and vds cover for part time (50 days a year) is cheap enough around 200 I think.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:35:12 GMT

Get your own cover with VDS before approaching anybody, otherwise there may be legal issues. You won't be an employee, or a locum, or covered by university insurence Charity clinics are often frantically busy, so may not be the place to start. Perhaps someone winding down to retirement would have the time/patience to supervise you in the difficult ops, whilst you can lessen their total operating list by taking the simple stuff off their hands. Both parties have to feel they're getting a good deal for it to work

Wynne

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Anthony Todd — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:21:39 GMT

Charities must be a good starting point with vets bosses that are more concerned with animal health than last months turnover.

Also you'll get a lot of routine surgery, which increases confidence and skill, and if you ask, the best at it are the ones most likely to give the best help.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Bob Russell — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:05:07 GMT

Just phone the local practice with the best reputation and ask!

Most senior vets are all too familiar with the stresses and strains of the profession and you are more than likely to receive a sympathetic hearing.

If you are happy to give an approximate area then someone here may have suggestions for a practice to spend some time with!

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Utlendigur — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:34:46 GMT

Or what about contacting Vetlife. I'm pretty sure I've heard of them helping with similar arrangements and they may be able to put you in touch with a sympathetic practice.

RE: 'Seeing practice' following anxiety/depression

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:28:57 GMT

Sounds like a good idea to me! Just ask them - most vets are decent people willing to give you a chance.