This post was written by Andreia Dias from UK VetMove.
When you set foot in the UK and start working in clinical practice, everything can quickly become overwhelming and challenging for reasons you weren’t expecting.
There are certain skills you need to develop to help you succeed that you may have been unaware about until you started to face certain challenges in the UK.
Let’s have a look at some of these challenges:
Language isn’t a barrier as much as cultural differences
In many cases, language is not the issue you thought it was going to be. The problem is that the way people communicate with you is not the same in the UK as it was back in your own country. There’s a lot of subtle meaning hidden behind certain phrases, so although you understand what people say, you miss out on what they actually mean.
For instance, a client that comes in saying “I think it may be time” may be suggesting that the goal of the visit is euthanasia, and failing to recognise this can lead to the client feeling alienated and guilty.
It’s not uncommon for clients to feel that, although you’re both talking English, you’re speaking a different language from them because you don’t understand what they mean – what a UK client says is often not exactly what they mean!
Learning and understanding the communication style of the British culture and each individual is a complex task that requires a lot of observation skills, as well as empathy. However, this will eventually pay off when your communication with clients becomes much smoother and easier.
Working in a team can be harder than you thought
In many countries, the veterinary team is organised in a completely different way to what you find in the UK. In the UK, you will be working with other team members that have different roles, some of which you may have thought were yours, but aren’t.
This is particularly relevant to veterinary nurses, who are responsible for monitoring anaesthesia in the UK. This is a task typically performed by vets in most other countries. However, you won’t look good if you try to take that responsibility away from your nurses!
Adjusting to a different style of work can also be difficult because you may have conflicting ideas on what to do in certain situations. Be careful and tactful in these situations – acknowledge the other person’s point of view, but also make your point in a polite way, if you believe what you are doing is correct.
Be prepared to hear constructive feedback from the rest of the team, including nurses, regarding how you do certain things. Don’t forget that they are trying to help you, even if it feels like you are being criticised. Thank them for it, but also explain your position.
The concept of welfare is different from what you’re used to
In other words, you are much more likely to perform euthanasia in the UK than in your own country. UK clients see euthanasia as a way of relieving suffering and avoiding pain, so for the most part, they do not want to have their pet die at home.
You should understand that euthanasia is a procedure many owners are familiar with and will request towards the end of their pet’s life.
You have to be reasonable when it comes to suggesting further treatment options based on patient welfare. What is considered “good” to you, such as keeping a patient alive for as long as possible, may be seen as cruel by owners and other vets when the quality of life of the patient is not being preserved. Try to see these differences in practice and understand the meaning behind these decisions.
You become part of a business
In many places, veterinary practices are run like proper businesses and can only afford to pay you if you make money for the practice. So, you have to respect that your time is precious, that you are an asset to the practice, and that your duty is to charge appropriately for your time and skills.
Never forget that clients expect to know what the costs of procedures are and agree with them before you do them! Don’t do things that come with a price tag without telling the owners, unless you have clear permission from them.
Also – remember not to give treatments for free if you haven’t discussed it with the practice manager!
All in all, working in the UK as an overseas vet comes with different challenges from the initial ones you were worried about, such as finding a job and a nice place to stay. It’s only after you start working that you begin to face the “big” challenges, but those too you will be able to overcome!
Author bio: UK VetMove is the online resource for dedicated and ambitious vets from all over the world that want to start a successful career in the UK, live their passion, become better vets and build a life that they want to live.