Returning to work after a period of parental leave can be a rewarding yet daunting organisational balancing act for veterinary professionals. Whether you’re seeking a financial boost, mental stimulation, or some actual adult conversation (or all three!), we’ve got some practical tips on how to get your figurative ducks lined up for a smooth transition back into the workplace. Whether you’re seeking a financial boost, mental stimulation, or some actual adult conversation (or all three!), we’ve got some practical tips on how to get your figurative ducks lined up for a smooth transition back into the workplace. Whilst you are a skilled, knowledgeable veterinary professional, you may have some mixed feelings about the prospect of re-entering the workplace. Many new parents understandably worry about leaving their baby in the care of someone else. Your workplace may have changed, with new staff members, drugs or clinic protocols introduced during your period of leave. And in all likelihood, you probably feel different too, with altered priorities, a constant family-related mental workload chatter, and more limited time availabilities. Apply the organisational and self-care advice outlined here, and you too can genuinely achieve the healthy, sustainable long-term balance between working and parenting that we all desire…

Setting boundaries means being honest about what you can and cannot handle right now…and often that is a daunting admission…an admission that we are indeed human, have our limitations and need to be constantly balancing and rebalancing work, life and play. Perhaps if we all learned how to set and respect boundaries, we could foster more mutual respect and compassion amongst each other, rather than resentment or anger. And we might just add another small but important facet towards improving the overall mental health of the veterinary profession. Here are some key steps toward setting mutually beneficial boundaries…

Locum Relief Veterinary Professionals are invaluable to practices that need a little extra support while key team members are away, or that want to give their team a well-earned break. Yes, you need the same foundational skills as any other talented Veterinarian, Nurse, or Technician. However, there are certain attributes and skills Locum Relief team members must be particularly good at. And yet, a great full-time Veterinarian may not make a great Locum, and vice versa, a talented Locum Relief Nurse may not be ideally suited to a permanent role. So what exactly does it take to be a successful Locum Relief Veterinary Professional? There are certainly more than 5, but if you have a good handle on these, any clinic, hospital, or emergency center will be keen to have you regularly on their team…

So, you’ve worked hard and earned your certification. Congratulations, you are now a qualified Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician. But now, a whole new challenge lies ahead – continuing your momentum and success as you start this next stage of your career as a working Veterinary Professional! Making the transition from student to practicing in-the-real is an exciting time, but it can also be understandably daunting. During your first year of employment especially, a great support network is invaluable. Helpful colleagues, accessible professional resources, and some mindful self-care will not only kick-start your career but will also support your mental and physical health during a potentially stressful time. So, to help you feel more grounded, calm, and in control of your journey, here are a few early veterinary career tips that we sourced from Veterinary Professionals like you who have “been there, done that” and not just survived, but thrived…

You know that sinking feeling. You have an unexpected gap in your shift scheduler, staring back at you, expecting to be magically filled. Or you know deep down that it’s time to ease the workload in your practice and give your permanent team members that well-earned R&R they well-and-truly deserve. You need an experienced, reliable locum relief veterinary professional, one that is worth their weight in gold. But even better – and we are talking platinum grade here – is an experienced, reliable locum relief professional already familiar with your protocols, facilities, team and clientele, who can hit the ground running. And for Locum Relief Vets, Nurses and Technicians, discover how to set the scene for your Locum Relief contracts. Here are six ways to attract the most valuable locum relief talent to your practice and ensure their visit is more than just a one-shift wonder…

Here you are, still relatively early in your veterinary career. You’re making it, not faking it nowadays. Still, every so often, there’s a curly medical situation, or a brief moment of self-doubt or you come across a more seasoned Vet, Nurse, or Tech who seems to have all the answers right at their fingertips. You don’t have “imposter syndrome” exactly, but you occasionally find yourself wondering how you will ever achieve that level of expertise…that combination of experience, grace, and talent that will one day fill you to overflowing with the confidence to deliver best-practice veterinary care, all day, every day. Fortunately, courtesy of a bubble in the space-time continuum, the experienced, talented, and confident future you has sent these gems of wisdom back for you to build on. So, heads up…

You already know that working as a veterinary professional is one of the most rewarding jobs there is. In fact, a 2020 study found that veterinarians, nurses, and veterinary technicians achieve much of their job satisfaction not from their paycheck, but from their pride in their work and the knowledge that they are making a positive contribution to the lives of others. The joy of saving a critically injured pet or discovering a treatable illness before it’s “too late” pushes veterinary professionals like you to give your job everything you have. However, it can be a real effort to keep your spirits up when you are constantly pushed to your limits and when the challenging days outnumber the good days. Occasional frustrations are inevitable, but frequent issues can quickly turn your dream job into a nightmare. So how do you know when it’s time to move on from a job that is no longer a good fit? Here are some significant hints…

To attract, develop and retain veterinary professional talent – Vets, Nurses and Techs – it’s essential that you get compensation and benefits right. Although salary and pay scales are not the sole driver of recruitment success or job satisfaction, they remain a key element, together with flexible scheduling, a supportive and collaborative team and a genuine commitment to work-life balance and more. This Veterinarian Salary Survey is prepared twice yearly in January and July and is assembled from a range of publicly available sources together with data from our sister Business Unit, VET&PET jobs Marketplace, so as to provide a broad guide to employees and employers as to the overall market and any variance in half-yearly trends. Discover more…