Name: THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING A VET: 5 things I learned in my first year as a new grad vet 🐾
Uploaded: 2024-07-14 18:00:07
Duration: 18 min 49 s

Question 1

What are the biggest lessons from your first year as a new grad vet?

Accepted Answer

I share five: imposter syndrome doesn’t magically disappear, euthanasias aren’t the hardest part for me, mentorship looks different for everyone, work-life balance needs real boundaries, and you cannot forget to be proud of yourself. My first year was a roller coaster, and these are the things that kept coming up again and again. I wish someone had drilled these into my brain before day one.

Question 2

Does imposter syndrome go away after vet school?

Accepted Answer

For me, no—imposter syndrome never truly goes away. It was the loudest in my first couple weeks, but even a year out I can have a day (like a dental that goes sideways) that makes me feel like it’s my first day again. The best reframe I have is that it usually shows up when I’m learning and growing.

Question 3

Is euthanasia the hardest part of being a veterinarian?

Accepted Answer

I used to think it would be, and my first one absolutely wrecked me emotionally. But a year out (I’ve done over 50 at this point), I see euthanasia as one last gift—ending suffering and giving a family a peaceful goodbye. What’s harder is when a patient suffers longer than they should because I can only recommend, and the final decision isn’t mine.

Question 4

What is good mentorship for a new grad vet?

Accepted Answer

Good mentorship is whatever matches how you learn and what you need to feel supported. I struggled when I compared my situation to my friends’ clinics, because everyone’s “plan” can look totally different. If you’re not getting what you need, you have to speak up—sometimes people just don’t know your learning style.

Question 5

How do you avoid burnout as a new grad veterinarian?

Accepted Answer

I’m big on boundaries because burnout can happen even faster as a vet than as a vet student. The good news is I can usually leave work at work now, which helps a lot. But I had to get more efficient at work so I wasn’t staying 1–2 hours late every night finishing records.

Question 6

How do you write vet medical records faster as a new grad?

Accepted Answer

Templates, templates, templates. I’ve made about 15–20 templates (like diarrhea, ear infection, eye infection, vaccines) that I copy/paste and then tweak for the patient. It cut my note time down a ton compared to when I first started.

Question 7

How do you handle callbacks and client communication as a vet?

Accepted Answer

This was a big learning curve for me, and delegating helped so much. If bloodwork is normal or a fecal is negative, I try to delegate those callbacks to team members who can absolutely handle it. I felt weird at first because I’m one of the younger vets, but honestly—spoiler alert—they don’t care and are usually happy to help.

Question 8

What should new grad vets remember when they feel like they’re failing?

Accepted Answer

Don’t forget to be proud of yourself, especially on the hard days. It’s so easy to spiral into a negative cycle, but when I look back, my growth is obvious—from asking questions on every single appointment to being mostly self-sufficient now. Celebrate the little wins (even the “silly” ones), because they’re what build your confidence.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING A VET: 5 things I learned in my first year as a new grad vet 🐾

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