Avatars and Bike Rides

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Neil Wheadon — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 09:28:41 GMT

From the disappointed Student thread. Edit Locum for Student

Quote

From the student perspective doing EMS right now.... If I was on that placement I'd really appreciate it if issues were brought up with me directly, if this could be done after the first week also it would give me a chance to hopefully make an improvement and change your opinion on me over the second week. You learn so much more from direct feedback and making changes this way and I have found this very helpful on 2 week rotations so far.

I do agree that as a student you need to give as much as you take, you have to ask questions, ask to get involved, try to be the helpful hands and do the extra tasks.

Personally, I find the first week hard as you have to quickly adapt to team dynamics, learn everyone names, find out what is in all the drawers. It can be quite intimidating asking questions sometimes when you worry about looking stupid and not having the knowledge. By the second week I feel much more comfortable, helpful and happy to have a bit of banter.

Sounds familiar

Neil

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Martin Atkinson — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 09:23:33 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]I have had the occasional client that doesn't like to see a locum, and one that I remember most was a Bull Mastiff breeder who shouted at reception "I'm not seeing some f***ing locum" - my response was "feeling is entirely mutual, the door's over there" [/quote]Well you would not have had that problem in my practice because that client would have been shown the door by me long before!

The problem with being a sole charge practice is that my clients have got used to me and my ways and don't like change, those who don't like me have p*ss*d off already so its not so much not liking the locum as not liking someone with different ways. The same applies to the nurses, they don't like their routine being changed and hate me going away but that said we do seem to have a run of locums with poor surgical skills or attitude recently and they feel they can openly criticise me if I do something they don't like but feel less inclined to do so with a locum.

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Joyce Whitehead — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 18:20:59 GMT

Well I've been inspired to upload an avatar after all this time. Ok that won't make me take part in a long bike ride (mine tend to be local and a maximum of about 20 miles on my slightly sit up and beg bike - I have carpal tunnel problems so can't do low handlebars).

My avatar is one of our dogs on my favourite beach in the world, Luskentyre each in Harris in the Hebrides. As dog walking on beaches is one of my favourite things, and I'm an exiled Scot.

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Clive Ansell — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 17:58:42 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]Well to be fair, the digs against locums have all been from 2 people - I sometimes wonder whether they are the same person lol! Everyone else seems to be nice to locums, perhaps they realise they might need one, one day! [/quote]

Maybe not the same person, but certainly of the same ilk. Maybe they're related ?

I think they just like to provoke and stir the pot from time to time, just harmless banter and bullsh1t mostly. Just keep smiling.

I have had the occasional client that doesn't like to see a locum, and one that I remember most was a Bull Mastiff breeder who shouted at reception "I'm not seeing some f***ing locum" - my response was "feeling is entirely mutual, the door's over there" (She wanted a restock of Synulox, which I would have refused anyway)

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Clive Ansell — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 17:49:07 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]We organised a bike ride last year as there are a few cyclists on here. I had a lovely day with the Mostyn's, but we need others as I need someone to slow Ian up a bit! Check out the thread, I guess a date can be set and Clive might arrive on time this year. [/quote]

Thanks for that.

It's hilarious is it not, I guess we are just not worthy of the title "professional" or "MRCVS". Actually, I was a real vet for 5 years before becoming a locum, I worked and cut my teeth in a busy 3 vet practice. In addition, in my pre vet days I worked briefly in management and hold management qualifications too, albeit all at a junior level.

RE: Avatars and Bike Rides

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:55:39 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]In the past few months, there has been a tendency to 'hammer' locums on here. Apparently we can't comment on management, clinical procedures and seemingly vet students now [/quote]As you can imagine as a sole charge practice for the past 36 years I've employed quite a few locums and there have been a few donkeys who were quite frankly so bad I wonder how they qualified, a handful were brilliant and taught me a thing or two but most just adequate and want to get on with the job, justify their fee and stick with the practice protocol. My nurses are bigger critics than me as after all they are the ones on the front line as I'm rarely there and they will give the thumbs up or down but they rarely want the same locum back again.

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Just for fun, if you do use an avatar, what's the significance?[/quote]I used my current avatar because a number of others have posted pictures themselves in their youth, my current picture of graduation day is the youngest picture I have. On a cycling forum I use a picture of Jesus as some members think I walk on water . My first avatar on here was a picture of a tortoise for no reason other than it was the only photograph I had in electronic format that would compress to the correct size. In retrospect it became self-deprecatory - 'One foot in the grave'!

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]We organised a bike ride last year as there are a few cyclists on here. I had a lovely day with the Mostyn's, but we need others as I need someone to slow Ian up a bit! [/quote]I'll be up for it legs and time permitting.

RE: Avatars, bike ride and be nice

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 14:47:26 GMT

Well to be fair, the digs against locums have all been from 2 people - I sometimes wonder whether they are the same person lol! Everyone else seems to be nice to locums, perhaps they realise they might need one, one day!