Episode 13 - Bonus Episode! Survival Guide for GETTING STARTED as a GP Vet

1.The GP hook

Starting out in GP practice can feel like Fresher’s Week in scrubs. This survival guide keeps it real: how to choose the right first job, what your opening week should look like, practical consult flow, and the honest phrases that get you out of tight spots without losing client trust.

Starting out in GP practice can feel a bit like Fresher’s Week in scrubs — exciting, overwhelming and slightly terrifying. This survival guide keeps it real: how to pick the right first job, what your opening week should look like, practical consult flow, how to phrase uncertainty without losing client trust, and the red flags worth listening to.

You’re staring at a blank consult screen, trying to find a drug name while reception mouths “lunch?” and a bouncy Labrador eyes your biscuits. If you’re about to start your first job (or you’re returning after a break), this one’s for you.

2.Choosing your first job: people, pacing and named support

The basics matter more than shiny kit. When you’re early in your career, the environment that surrounds you shapes how quickly and safely you learn.

Look for:

Quick questions to ask the team (not just the boss):

Common trap: choosing the practice with the biggest salary or fanciest equipment. Early‑career growth often comes from steady caseload, supportive feedback and time to reflect.

If you can, shadow a half‑day on consults and a half‑day in prep/theatre to get the “middle‑lane” feel: learning‑rich but not frantic.

• A clear named mentor / GDP advisor and scheduled check‑ins (weekly or fortnightly).
• Protected starts: longer consults initially and buddying for theatre days.
• Real CPD support (especially for areas you feel weak in, like dentistry).
• A team that seems kind and interested rather than flat or exhausted.
• A chance to shadow consults and prep/theatre before you sign.
• Do people usually get a lunch break?
• What happens when the diary overruns?
• Who do new grads go to with clinical questions?
• What’s the clinic approach to vaccines, neutering and AHCs?
• How often do people leave — and why?

3.Red flags and nuance

Be wary if you see:

A note on overtime: occasional late finishes because of genuine clinical need are normal. Persistent unpaid extra hours or no time to reflect and finish notes are problems to raise or to walk away from.

• Expectation of early sole charge.
• No named mentor or irregular check‑ins.
• Chronic diary overruns with unpaid overtime as the norm.
• High staff turnover and a deflated atmosphere.
• Being expected to hide mistakes or being criticised for asking questions.

4.Your first day and week: orientation before consults

A good first morning is administrative, not clinical:

Expect your early consults to be preventative‑care heavy (vaccines, flea/worming, puppy checks) with longer slots and easy escalation routes for sick cases.

Pocket aide‑mémoire to build:

• Where the essentials live (injectables, crash box, common consumables).
• How the practice uses the PMS (labels, lab forms, estimates).
• Local protocols: vaccines, parasite control, neutering policy, AHC process.
• Stock awareness: what brands do they actually use and how they appear on the system.
• Who’s who and where they tend to be.
• Practice vaccine and parasite protocols
• Local neutering policy and AHC practice
• Where common items live in the building
• Key contact names/extensions for quick escalation

5.Consult flow you can trust (and keep to time)

Stick to a simple, repeatable flow:

Owner‑friendly phrases:

Distraction is gold: ask permission to use treats or licky‑licks during injections. For cats, better lights and a quick look out in prep are valid reasons to step out of the consult room.

• Open with “Any current worries?” then practical checks: eating, drinking, toileting, activity.
• Do a calm nose‑to‑tail exam in the same order every time.
• Rapport matters: owners remember how you made them and their pet feel.
• “I’ll make this quick for her; she’s telling us she’d rather be in her box.”
• “Feel free to let him off‑lead so he can sniff about while we chat.”
• “I’ll give the vaccine while we’re talking — most don’t even notice.”

6.Teamwork is your superpower

Nurses and receptionists see the patterns you don’t. Include them early, ask how you can help, and listen — especially when their practical shortcuts don’t sound “vetty.” Those local hacks are often based on dozens of iterations.

If a nurse says “we usually do it like this,” ask why. They’ll often explain a workflow reason that prevents problems later.

Receptionists control the diary and know the tricky clients — speaking to them away from the boss will give you invaluable inside info.

7.How to say “I’m not sure” — without losing trust

Honesty is fine; phrasing is everything:

Useful get‑out‑of‑the‑room lines:

If you prefer a later reply: “That’s a great question — can I pull together a couple of options and email you by tonight?” and then follow up.

AI can help with phrasing and quick references, but always confirm locally before advising.

• Policy/clinic approach: “I’m new here and want to follow our clinic policy — I’ll just check that and be back.”
• Clinical hesitation: “Something isn’t sitting right. I’d like a second pair of eyes so we don’t miss anything — I’ll be back in a moment.”
• Follow‑ups: “There’s more to this than it looks. I’ll email you later today with options,” and then actually do it.
• “The lights are better in prep — can I have a quick look out the back?”
• “My thermometer isn’t in here — two ticks and I’ll grab one.”
• “I’m going to run this past a colleague who sees lots of these so we don’t miss anything.”

8.Surgery: stepwise exposure and respectful limits

You should not be expected to run theatre solo on day one. Good surgical onboarding looks like:

If a job expects you to be sole surgeon without backup from the start, that’s a red flag.

• Stepwise exposure: supervised, then observed with the senior scrubbed, then nearby while you lead.
• Cases chosen for learning, not jeopardy.
• Space to say “I’m not ready” and have that respected.

9.Burnout, boundaries and moving on

Watch for these signs:

It’s OK to move. There’s rarely a perfect practice forever — there is a right fit for your life stage. Be honest about what you need, show willingness to pitch in, and expect two‑way flexibility.

Practical team‑building moves: on a slow day offer concrete help (walk patients, place catheters, tidy prep). Small gestures build trust fast.

• Dread before shifts and no one to ask questions.
• Constantly rushed notes or taking work home to finish.
• Being told off for questions or feeling you must hide mistakes.
• No breaks, no time to reflect, no mentorship.

10.Practical tips that actually help

• Pocket notebook: normals, common drug names (brand vs generic), practice‑specific protocols and where items live. It’s quicker than panic‑searching mid‑consult.
• Build rapport fast: call clients and pets by name, read the notes before they enter, and tailor your body language to the animal (get down for friendly dogs; give shy cats space).
• Have treats/licky‑licks in your pocket for quick distraction during injections.
• Use “see one, do one, teach one” style for theatre when supported; insist on a buddy if you’re not confident.

11.Recruitment and finding jobs

There are lots of routes: job boards, social media, recruitment agencies. A good recruiter can be useful for matching you to culture and negotiating for you. The hosts work with a recruitment partner they’ve used personally — see the episode show notes for links and any referral code.

12.Useful links and getting in touch

Full links and contact options are in the episode show notes and on chattyvets.com/contact. If you want to send a voice note for the podcast, look for the WhatsApp/contact link in the show notes — the hosts enjoy featuring listener questions.

Takeaway

You won’t remember every protocol in week one, but clients will remember how you treated them and their pet. Build trust, use your team, and give yourself permission to be new — momentum comes from good habits, not heroics.

• Choose people, pacing and mentoring over pay or kit.
• Shadow the day, ask direct questions of the whole team, and listen to the vibes.
• First day = orientation; expect longer slots and supportive buddying.
• Rapport beats perfection. Use simple consult flow, distraction and clear phrasing when unsure.
• You shouldn’t be solo in theatre or sole charge without support.
• If you’re anxious every day, can’t ask for help or are cutting corners to keep up, reset the plan — moving on is allowed.