stay or go?

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:53:22 GMT

Have been trying to suggest we change things but falling in deaf ears ! Interview for new bets in a few weeks. See if I think grass is greener ??

Re: stay or go?

supamog — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:48:18 GMT

Steph I couldn't agree more. Yes I am now not working and missing the money but I did put my sanity first and now don't have to deal with the daily frustrations of things not getting done properly on a daily basis, studying and not being allowed to put my quals into action and quite frankly standards so low that i won't take my own pets there but still worry about other peoples!

Re: stay or go?

louise170388 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:37:06 GMT

I had this problem :/ at a stand-alone vets where the proprietor was ultimately the only vet as she got rid of the other one as she didn't like how they did things (they did things properly!).. But truth be told the way things were done there were well blow the standard I was taught. Unfortunately if they are not willing to change, and there is no higher authority like a head office you can go to to make suggestions, then your pretty stuck. I couldn't change how things were done at that practice, I was only locumming but if I was full time i don't think I could have stuck around anyway.

Why spend time learning and getting qualified, to never use the skills and have to stand by and do things you don't agree with.. apply for a new job and when you've found one leave :) Job satisfaction makes all the difference.

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:29:38 GMT

Animals not getting right fluid amount, hurried ops casing post op prob/bleeds. Reception rude, staff don't like each other. List goes on and on And no they often don't get walked untill beds dripping wet :(

Re: stay or go?

Steph Smith BSc(hons) RVN — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:13:55 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"] if I have a dog on a drip that desperately needs to go out for a pee then my priority is making sure that patient is taken out and given the opportunity to empty its bladder and be more comfortable before it soils its kennel, the paperwork waits, it still gets done[/quote]

Great example, I agree totally with what you are saying there about differences in methodologies between practices. Is there a difference between doing things the right way, differently, and doing things inadequately, i.e. sub-standard. For example with your dog with her legs crossed, there are colleagues out there who would prefer not to take the dog out and leave it to pee in its bed (and not because they are otherwise busy), might not have a vetbed. That may be perceived as sub-standard. Working with colleagues with this kind of attitude can be pretty exhausting.

Re: stay or go?

Sal the 1st — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:06:06 GMT

I feel the thing to remember in all of this is that every practice has a different way of doing things I have never worked in practice that operates in exactly the same way as another practice ( you can even get noticeable differences within different branches of the same practice) if you read some of the most recent reports on the NHS you will see it is also happening there - where you get differences between two wards often next door to each other with very different standards of nursing care, read these reports carefully and you will see that there is no positive correlation for the newer graduated nurses providing better nursing care than the older school nursing staff , now if this was all down to following prescribed standards to the letter then the NHS should be perfect on every ward it has the staff and it has the equipment and it still isnt and neither are we but often with fewer resources - I do feel strongly that you need to be a bit careful when you say that just because a practice doesnt conform exactly to the standards as taught to an individual at x y or z college that it has lower standards, because that quite often is not the case at all, just because something is different it doesnt always mean it is wrong.

One of my major bug bears is paperwork - sure it needs to be done and records need to be kept but if I have a dog on a drip that desperately needs to go out for a pee then my priority is making sure that patient is taken out and given the opportunity to empty its bladder and be more comfortable before it soils its kennel, the paperwork waits, it still gets done but the patient comes first - always. we all have different ways of doing things and different priorities and if it isnt possible to at least try and adapt your methodology to a particular practice standard then moving on has to be a reasonable option. I do wonder sometimes though how many people move from practice to practice in quick succession and never find that elusive practice that fits in with their ideals.

I suppose a good example of this is the thread on here on cleaning floors - there are lots of ways to clean floors and lots of products to help us keep floors clean and hygienic and that you can attempt to standardise - but the common denominator is elbow grease and some are better at applying than others (it is variable)

Re: stay or go?

Steph Smith BSc(hons) RVN — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:25:47 GMT

Re: "rubbing off", this certainly can happen, in practices which are stuck in their old ways. Sub-standard becomes the "norm". In some cases it may be best to leave, and put your sanity first, if there is no support from management for improving standards. Some of us just have higher standards than others, but we are better working alongisde those of similar mindset!!

Steph

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:11:56 GMT

would never leave without another job, things are not that bad x

Re: stay or go?

dinny_06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:11:52 GMT

Hi Spud x, I am not long qualified and have an interview coming up soon. I am glad I left my last practice as I felt it was a bit sloppy. I feel that if I had of stayed that the standards of the practice and other workers would have rubbed off on me. That was the last thing I wanted for my standards to drop because of this situation. So just keep this in mind. But I definately wouldnt leave until you got something else. But best of luck

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:35:33 GMT

sal i am affraid it a no and a no on the head nurse thing :(

Re: stay or go?

Sal the 1st — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:07:24 GMT

The thing is there are ways and ways of bringing about change. One way is to stamp your feet and lay down the law and say this has to be done and it has to be done my way because my way is best or you can work with what you already have in place and make small changes gradually that are less noticeable/ controversial and over time those little changes can lead to a whole different way of doing things. If you are making just little changes that are getting results and these are noticeable in a positive way by those in charge they are more likely to take them on board and accept them as the new standard, it doesnt have to be anything earth shattering. I prefer to play the long game - it still gets results and meets with less resistance.

Spud can i just ask if you are a head nurse? - if you are could you maybe suggest that the nurses try out what you have in mind for a couple of weeks and see where it goes from there? or if you arent a head nurse do you have the support of you head nurse?

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:33:01 GMT

thamks for the afvice. taking it al on board. x x

Re: stay or go?

Avril Louise Jackson RVN — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:28:27 GMT

It's something like this that can brew up and become a big problem. Do you stay and put up with it, do you stay and try and change things or do you leave and leave them to it? It has to boil down to your circumstances and your ambition.

I know what you mean about standards being below par. I get so frustrated sometimes, often in fact. Knowing you are an efficient, caring nurse and doing your job that you love is great but seeing people who are just "winging it" can make you feel like you might as well be working alone rather than as a team; people turning in late, new o2 bottles not checked,not seeing that diarrhoea, laziness!

There is no perfect job. Keep up your good standards Spud and aim to improve standards and tell your bf to shaddup :)

Re: stay or go?

BengalcatRVN — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:37:59 GMT

know that feeling, is it a stand-alone or part of a group? Have you anyone you can talk to? Am trying to slowly work on this in my practice, it'll take a while, but I have support from a manager on a higher level. I too, appear to have very high standards, and this practice, although not killing animals just aren't quite up there yet, if this makes sence. A little guidenace and gentle perswasion should go some way I hope :o)

Re: stay or go?

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:17:03 GMT

they dont do change, they openly admit that.

Re: stay or go?

bongo — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:10:13 GMT

stay where you are but look round in the meantime, easier to find work whilst you are still in work.

Re: stay or go?

emmadilemma — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:03:24 GMT

Have you spoken to them about this?? Would be great for the animals ....and yourself...if you could improve things?? I know that`s easier said than done sometimes but maybe worth a try