Locumming- what would you do?

RE: Locumming- what would you do?

Sal the 1st — Sat, 02 May 2015 20:50:56 GMT

[quote user="Liv"]

when I started one vet had given me a heads up about what the other vet could be like, and also gave me a pre-warning that she also has a tendency to lose her patience and shout at people (when I say people I now realise by that she means the nurses).

[/quote]

... And this is one very big reason why some practices cannot keep staff and need to run on locums- as I told an ex boss on my last day ( I could afford to be brave the wages were already in the bank) ' you might be the best surgeon in the world but as a human being you are an absolute s**t that hasn't even made it out of remedial class'

Did he care? - that would be a no - but hell it made me feel better.

Chin up and count the days it will be over sooner than you think

RE: Locumming- what would you do?

Liv — Sat, 02 May 2015 03:36:03 GMT

Thank you for all your replies, that helps.

Sorry for my rant, but I feel so angry/upset/disappointed in this silly situation.

aaand breathe :-)

RE: Locumming- what would you do?

Alison Clare Hickman — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:47:00 GMT

Hi,

I am/have locummed and experienced same. In total agreement with both Suz and Sal! I learned early on that my own personal ethics of 'staying the course' as I felt this to be true and right, (as I'd made a promise to do something), wasn't altogether a healthy option in some situations. I beat myself up, of course, about the animals I was leaving behind but rationalised it by doing what I could when I was there (hoping to pass on some good nursing techniques) and keeping my sanity and safety intact by leaving with a short notice period.

I remained polite but firm that I was not able to offer my services again but thanked the practice for the invaluable experience and wished everyone well for the future.

Hope you keep safe.

Ali h

RE: Locumming- what would you do?

Sal the 1st — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 01:58:24 GMT

if you are with an agency I would be contacting them and letting them know what the place is like and ask them to find somebody else asap - unless its a short locum and you only have a few days left and then I would probably stick it out and mark it down to experience. Sadly there are practices out there that run permanently on locum staff because they just cannot hang onto permanent staff.

When I was locumming I came across this far too often, the places where you are supposedly covering one persons holiday but by the end of the week you end up covering the person who is on holiday (which is actually 'garden leave') another bod who has gone off with stress, and a third bod who I never saw again after my second day because they decided they had had enough and didn't want to be there anymore (and having the misfortune to work alongside their boss by the end of the third day neither did I) - in fact I started compiling a list of places I would never touch again unless I was absolutely desperate.

I am a reasonably easy going bod - I know different places have different ways of doing things, I know this can be a stress inducing occupation but somebody throwing a tantrum impresses me not one little bit , I have taken it for years and now I have had enough, I just don't accept it anymore- there are too many adults in this game (and yes I am including some nurses as well) behaving like playground bullies and then wondering why nobody wants to work with them. Its miserable for everybody involved and it just doesn't have to be that way.

I hope you have a happier experience with your next place - there are some nice ones out there

RE: Locumming- what would you do?

suz85 — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 23:24:01 GMT

I'm not a locum, but I support the biggest factor is how long are you there for? If a week I'd stick it out and then never go back, if I was meant to be there for 6 months for example, it might be a different outcome. Is there anyone you can speak to at the practice about it?