Vets who disagree

Re: Vets who disagree

Laura Ringsell — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:23:54 GMT

Oh dear, a terribly difficult situation. If this was me I would be sitting down with the boss and explaining the difficulties and frustrations that this is causing you, it will inevitably lead to a negative atmosphere and that could have very significant repercussions. Maybe your boss doesn't like confrontation ( who does! ) but no action will mean you probably end up looking for work elsewhere, seems hardly fair when you are trying to make the situation work. I too am head nurse in a two vet practice, I understand the logistics of this type of environment, how close the team ends up being and how difficult it can be to resolve this type of issue. You are clearly getting very frustrated or you wouldn't have come on here, if it's going to end up as a vet or me situation make sure you get your feelings across before desperation sets in as then your emotions will boil over and you will loose the ability to be rational. Good luck.

Re: Vets who disagree

Fuzzyduck — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:11:57 GMT

It's not really up to you to resolve this problem, if your boss is deciding a treatment plan and another vet it disagreeing or doing something different then it's up to the boss to speak to the other vet. If this vet is an employee then he really should be showing his boss more respect, but if the boss just let's it be then that's his decision. I imagine the boss must be annoyed at the other vet always doing the opposite of what he thinks is right.

Re: Vets who disagree

lskm 23 — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:42:53 GMT

Yep, that's how the rest of us work, just not this vet!

Re: Vets who disagree

Helen Tottey — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:37:42 GMT

How difficult.

Surely though the treating vet makes a decision and that treatment plan should be followed unless it becomes detrimental to the animals health.

Re: Vets who disagree

lskm 23 — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:28:59 GMT

Hi, I am the head nurse and the boss is aware of the situation and has tried to speak to the other vet but makes no difference. I had an issue with the vet in question and when I finally spoke to him, even though I had said other members of staff had noticed the same situation he still said ' I don't see it that way' . When the vet could not get the IV, I said should I give it S.C and he just turned round and said it was not needed. The cat is very laid back it would not have been upset. When I first joined a long time ago it was similar then it seemed to get better but just over the last few months it seems to have gone down hill again.

We have also just bought a new laser therapy machine, the nurses are very keen to use this and promote in practice but because the vet thought he should of had a diathermy machine he will not promote! We had a cat with a fracture that was very keen to get started then by the time she came out of the consult she had decided against it.

Hopefully it will improve soon

Re: Vets who disagree

Selena Carnell — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:09:52 GMT

You could have given s/c fluids, this can be tolerated better by the cat, but It must be difficult if the other vet isn't carrying out what has been asked, especially if the owners are expecting it to be on fluids. I am in a two vet practice too but they communicate quite well.

Re: Vets who disagree

Laura Ringsell — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:09:09 GMT

Sorry I can only empathise with your situation, however you have said a key word in my opinion and that is 'the boss'. Surely if its his clinic then unless the other vet is an equal partner then what he wants should go. If an animal has been admitted for a procedure and this is what has been discussed with the client then surely it's any easy choice. Are you head nurse, do you have a head nurse....a conversation needs to be had with the boss about dealing with this before it becomes an unworkable situation. Ask yourself, you have said you would be happy with either of then dealing with your animals, what would you have done if it was your cat on this day. Sorry, I know it's not overly helpful but I do sympathesise as I can imagine this is a nightmare on a daily basis. I can only suggest what I would do in this situation.