General Qs Flashcards
What qualities do you possess that will make you a successful veterinarian?
I believe I am a very driven person. A veterinarian requires the motivation and adaptability to keep up with the everchanging medical industry, rigorous educational aspects as well as demanding hours. I am aware that a vet must maintain 35 hours of continuing professional development per year. My passion for independent leading and extra research projects have given me the skills to take this on. Another crucial quality of a vet is compassion. Over the years, I have dedicated my time to various volunteering, such as coaching Cirencester Junior Athletics Club and Brockworth Swimming Club, helping a local primary school, engaging with elderly residents at Hunter’s care home, offering remote tutoring to a junior school pupil during lockdown, and providing animal and babysitting services. This has allowed me to develop empathy and a satisfaction for helping others. Finally, I am confident, allowing me to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues. This will help in building trust and relationships, as well as being able to act swiftly and problem-solve under pressure.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the veterinary profession today?
I believe that the mental health in the veterinary community is evidently a big obstacle. I read a statistic that UK veterinary surgeons are 4 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. I think a plethora of factors in the industry affect this, such as the high-stakes of the job, staff shortages which in turn lead to higher working hours and a strain on personal life. I think veterinarians require a strong support system to navigate the difficult terrain of the profession, with set
How do you handle stress and high-pressure situations?
I am aware that stress and pressure are extremely common in the veterinary profession, and that it is crucial to handle them effectively by remaining calm and professional. Stress can personally lead to me becoming tense, so in order to counteract this, I use a deep breathing exercise to clear my mind and relax so I am able to assess the situation and achieve what is necessary. I utilised this once in my lifeguard shift when a young child jumped into the deep end and was unable to reach the surface. I did not let the stress affect me, and instead acted as quickly as I could with training in mind. I was able to retrieve the child and help them out the pool as quickly as possible alongside a colleague. Thankfully, the child was alright and had no injuries. I have found that once I am in the zone by completing these breaths, I can work well and use the pressure as a motivating factor.
Do you understand the demands of the veterinarian profession? How do you plan on handling them?
My work experience and reading around the subject has opened my eyes to the emotional and physical demands of the industry. I am aware that alongside difficult surgeries, vets must maintain healthy client relationships, be aware of all the legislation, take on heavy emotional burdens and advance alongside the techonological developments in the field.
How do you keep motivated?
In order to stay on task, my priority is to remain organized and setting myself clear goals, through effective time management. I am a firm believer in making lists so I know what I need to achieve. Additionally, self-care is important to maintain a balanced mindset and good well-being. I personally find running a good outlet for stress. I also think adapting to challenges is important, so I can instead learn from them instead of losing motivation. For example, I actually wish to run a half marathon to raise money for The national canine cancer foundation in the summer, as I recently lost my dog to the disease and wish to help others.
If you couldn’t become a vet, what other profession would you choose?
I would likely pursue a career in a closely related field to animal welfare. One option could be a wildlife biologist, where I could contribute to the protecting and preservation of endangered species and their habitats. Alternatively, my EPQ introduced me to the opportunity of animal research, where I could perhaps focus on developing treatments to improve animal health using biological and medical knowledge.
Explain your thoughts on the human-animal bond and its significance in veterinary practice.
The human-animal bond is at the heart of veterinary practice. Humans depend on their animal companions for emotional support, companionship and unconditional love. Animals also have many health benefits, including reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and not even including medical alert assistance dogs. This can affect consultations, as vets must aim to preserve this bond. They act as a bridge between animal and owner, providing physical support to one, and mental to the latter. As the animals are a part of the owners family, it is crucial to treat them with respect and great care, building trust so that you are able to offer the best care possible.
Explain your views on the ethical treatment of animals used in research.
As a large section of my EPQ that was called ‘Pharmecuticals, medical and animal research, is Animal Testing still necessary within these fields?’ I have been able to dissect the usage of these animals. Due to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the implication of the 3 R principle has enriched the ethical treatment of the subjects exponentially, as well as protecting certain species. However, knowing that 92% of drugs fail during human clinical trials, and around 2.8 million experimental procedures occurred in 2022, I think the trials must be streamlined further. Overall, it does fill me with confidence that projects must have access to a vet to ensure the animals receive appropriate care, 8% of the experimental procedures were non-recovery or sever. I think developing alternative methods should be the priority, in order to eliminate animal usage entirely, with stellar examples being the Organ-On-Chips and Epiderm Tissue model.
Describe your understanding of the role of veterinarians.
The veterinary profession is extremely diverse. Their most common role is to diagnose, treat and prevent illness and injuries in animals. Most likely in a mixed practice setting, their take on consultations, vaccinations, surgeries and emergency medical treatment. However, dairy farmers have to taken on further obligations by protecting the food supply chain, mostly through preventing zoonotic diseases. This can directly impact the economy. Watching tuberculosis testing showed me how proficient they must be in relevant laws and regulations. They also must take on careful regulation and monitoring of pregnancy. Zoo veterinarians must have knowledge on the unique diets, diseases and care required to advise on husbandry and conserve endangered species. A vet must always be conscientious of the animals quality of life, whilst always respecting the owners wishes and financial situation.
Can you provide an example of a time when you had to advocate for an animal’s welfare?
During one Saturday work experience at my vet practice, someone brought in a wild hedgehog that showed little sign of life, and its left arm was injured. As one vet was out on a farm visit, the in-house vet only had a chance to quickly look over it before a pencilled in surgery. He determined that it had hypothermia and there was little hope for recovery as its heartbeat was extremely faint, so it was to undergo euthanasia. I decided to speak up and ask if there was anything else that could be done, as I was apprehensive. After discussing how its quality of life would be affected, and how it may have been crueler to subject it to intensive surgery then releasing it back into the wild with limited motion, he offered for me to inject the animal with the injection. Feeling that this was in the best interest of the animals welfare, I undertook the procedure feeling I had done what was necessary.
Discuss your experiences working with exotic or non-traditional pets.
I spent a day at the Crocodiles of the World Zoo where I learnt about their unique habitats, diets and husbandry. Here, I was able to handle juvenile crocodiles and record their length and weight for health records. Although many crocodiles, alligators, caimans and even bearded dragons were present, we mostly focused on the Nile crocodile. I was able to feed them all the while learning about their freshwater habitats, pregnancy period and dangers to their population, such as illegal hunting.
Discuss your experiences with end-of-life care and euthanasia in veterinary practice. If you have none, how would you approach this challenging task?
During one Saturday work experience at my vet practice, someone brought in a wild hedgehog that showed little sign of life, and its left arm was injured. As one vet was out on a farm visit, the in-house vet only had a chance to quickly look over it before a pencilled in surgery. He determined that it had hypothermia and there was little hope for recovery as its heartbeat was extremely faint, so it was to undergo euthanasia. I decided to speak up and ask if there was anything else that could be done, as I was apprehensive. After discussing how its quality of life would be affected, and how it may have been crueler to subject it to intensive surgery then releasing it back into the wild with limited motion, he offered for me to inject the animal with the injection. Feeling that this was in the best interest of the animals welfare, I undertook the procedure feeling I had done what was necessary. I have also observed two other euthanasia appointments, one being for alpacas and one for a working dog. The amalgamation of these cases have shown me how the vet must break down the process, warn them of twitching and agonal gasps all while being compassionate and delicate.
How do you handle situations where you must deliver difficult news to a pet owner about their animal’s health?
Before meeting with the owner, I would prepare and ensure I have all the knowledge possible to inform them properly and correctly. Then I would ensure I would meet them in a private space so we can have a uninterrupted conversation where they can feel comfortable to express their emotions. Honesty and clarity is important when explaining carefully the news, perhaps breaking down why it happened, what it entails and what all the potential next steps are. I would make sure to explain the risks and benefits of each option and help them make the best decision for them. I would ensure to listen effectively to any of the owner’s concerns or sadness, and try my best to validate and support them.
Discuss your understanding of the veterinary oath and its significance.
Every veterinarian takes this pledge upon entering the profession. It outlines the ethics and responsibilities that they commit to uphold throughout their career. These are professional competence, emphasizing the highest standard of integrity and ethical conduct. They commit to practicing honesty and integrity with clients and colleagues, upholding client confidentiality and trust. It is significant as it ensures that the vets are dedicated to promoting animal health and wellbeing. They are accountable for their actions. They also pledge to continuing professional development for 35 hours every year
How do you plan to balance the demands of coursework, clinical rotations, extracurricular activities, and your other commitments in veterinary school?
I will ensure I balance my time by creating a schedule for myself. By organising myself effectively, I can ensure I allow sufficient time to each task and mitigate procrastination or cramming. I will ensure to set realistic goals, breaking down larger tasks into smaller manageable ones to help me stay on track. If I become too stressed, I will not shy away from asking for help from professors, classmates, friends or family, as I’m aware a strong support system is vital.
