Top tips to optimise your final year

When I work at open days for Bristol University and prospective students ask about rotations, I’ve always described them as ‘doing the job but with training wheels on.’ Like the rest of my year, I was faced with a mix of nerves and excitement, the night before we started rotations.

If I’m honest, I had always been a little sceptical about how spending so much time in referral hospitals would help prepare me for being a first opinion vet, but I am very pleased to have been proven wrong already.

I can’t say it has always been easy so far. I have had some of the toughest, lowest points of my time at university since starting rotations, but there have been so many positives as well. I continue to surprise myself at what I am capable of (and probably some of the clinicians too!) So, below are some key non-clinical lessons I have learnt in the last two months on my clinical rotations.

Nobody wants to see you fail

Everyone who works in the university referral hospitals and practices loves to teach and, as they liked to remind us before we started, the clinics wouldn’t be there without the vet school and the learning opportunity they allow vet schools to deliver. Rotations will definitely be hard at times and some cases will be really difficult. However, if you apply first principles, think things through and talk through your thought process so people can see how you’ve reached your answer, then nobody will mind if you miss a differential or two.

As before, clinicians love to teach and will always help you work to the right answer. Clinicians are always really impressed when you go away and come back with the answer to a question you didn’t know and when you’ve prepared in advance for your case. Sometimes, the clinicians are even more excited than you when you finally nail a practical skill or come up with the right treatment plan.

You’ll know far more than you think you do

Imposter syndrome is real, and it can seem like everyone else knows much more than you because other people may speak up first. But you’ve passed 4 years of vet school so the answer will be in your head somewhere. You’ve also done half, if not more of your clinical EMS and will have gained a lot of knowledge and practical skills from the amazing vets in practice who take students on EMS all the time to help us with our education. Just because one rotation is hard, it doesn’t mean you will find every one hard. Reflect on your strengths as you can harness these for exams and for your first years in practice. You will be great at things!

Reflection is really important

Quite often reflection gets a bad reputation at vet school, and certainly in the early years it can sometimes seem a bit forced. But invariably you won’t always be right in your answers, or you’ll forget to ask something in a history, or you won’t succeed in taking your blood sample, or you’ll not differentiate between a CL and a follicle at manual PD.

What’s important is how you take on board what the vet or vet nurse overseeing your case says to you and how you allow that experience to help you improve. And, ultimately, the only way to do that is through some reflection. So, ask yourself- what went well, what could I improve on and how might I make those changes in the future?

EMS becomes even more valuable

When I was in second year a friend who had recently graduated told me that instead of racing through as much of my clinical EMS in 3/4th year I should ensure I saved some for the those EMS breaks in rotations. EMS during final year is the perfect chance to practice and improve the skills and knowledge you gain on rotations.

Usually you’re the only student and so can get involved with even more cases. Plus, if you save a few weeks until nearer graduation you can always use it to do a trial week at somewhere that might employ you.

You can learn so much from your peers

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and will know more or less in different areas. Ultimately, as vet students we’re all working to the same goal. So, if someone’s struggling on their case or rotation always offer to help them out - you never know when it’ll be the other way round and you could do with some help.

Also, everyone will have picked up different tips from EMS - there are multiple ways to reach the same goal so make sure you share your experiences as someone may have a different way that you find easier!

Go to SPVS Lancaster Final Year Seminar

This conference provides a fantastic chance to talk to a lot of vets who are overwhelmingly positive about working in general practice and beyond. It’s also a chance to gain valuable tips about applying for jobs, what life in practice is like and how to prepare for it.

Alongside the talks is a fantastic social scene and the chance to network with students from all vet schools who are going through rotations as well.

Always have a CV ready

Because you never know, someone may ask to view it while you are on EMS or rotations.

Don’t panic about Directly Observed Procedures (DOPS)

If you succeed then you feel great, and if you don’t then you’ll get some excellent feedback on how to improve your technique and can always retry it.

And finally... Vet Nurses are fantastic

Vet nurses are amazing teachers and advice givers and they will always help you out if they can. Whether you’re struggling with an anaesthetic protocol, picking the correct blood tube or want some tips on developing your practical skills they will always help to build your confidence… but I’m sure you already knew that one.

Everyone says final year flies by and it’s true, so there is a lot to be said on taking a pause, reflecting on how much you’ve already learned and making the most of the opportunities final year can offer you.

More information

• If you're studying to become a vet then we can offer you additional support to help you achieve your goal; including free EMS insurance, travel grants and student guides.
• BVA blog - Extra-mural studies: A students experience
• BVA blog - What’s vet school life like?
• BVA blog - What students need to know about EMS