Clinics are definitely a world of their own, which is something I can definitely appreciate now that I am no longer in them and have entered the real world. You tend to get spoiled in some ways having so many resources at your fingertips and available time to work with them. Practice so far for me has been great, but there definitely have been moments that have been a reality check. A client with a tiny budget, ten-minute appointment slots, limited diagnostics to choose from, no specialist to consult with, and the list goes on. Plain and simple, I’ve been a little spoiled and it takes work to adjust to some parts of real practice.
My advice to veterinary students is appreciate some of the benefits of clinics in an advanced specialty hospital, because all too soon they will be gone. These include the client who has a limitless budget and will complete every test you would like, even if there is only a small chance the pet has what you are testing for. I definitely do not regret entering general practice, but it has its challenges and reality checks every step of the way. But so far, I am loving it. The clients in many cases are even more appreciative than some I had while working at school. They are thrilled when you can work with their limited budget to offer options and find a way to save their beloved pet. It is a time of new challenges and learning experiences and one I look forward to embracing.
Thank you! You don’t realize how much that means to a pet mom like me with a limited budget and a pet baby with multiple issues. You are definitely an angel in my opinion. Kudos to you.