The practice welcomes enthusiastic veterinary students in their clinical years to carry out EMS. Booking can be carried out by visiting www.vetems.co.uk or by emailing [email protected]
We ask that all students applying for EMS send us a CV including any previous experience they have had. This will be required before we can confirm any placements.
Student Guidelines
Armour Vet Group’s student guidelines are detailed below. These guidelines should be adhered to during your extra mural study (EMS) time with us. Please familiarise yourself with the information, it will ensure you make the most of your time and gain something meaningful from your EMS.
How to apply
Email us on [email protected] All placements will be confirmed either by telephone or email.
Aims & Goals
We would like you to consider what you would like to achieve during your time with us. Please take some time to note down a few aims and goals for the time you spend with us. If you have an idea of what you want to learn we will try and make time to ensure you achieve this. Think about your areas of weakness either practical skills or understanding of theory, how can we help you improve?
On call
Most emergencies (calvings, prolapses) occur out of hours and are often a rare occurrence. We do not require students to do on call with us at night or at the weekends but if you want to be involved, please provide your mobile number and let the vets on call know that you would like to know if they are called out.
Health & Safety
You must read the Health and Safety handbook, sign it and fill in an emergency contact details form. This is important as we are dealing with large and sometimes unpredictable animals and safety is paramount.
Farm Investigations
We will aim to give you a specific task such as mobility scoring or mastitis sampling when you are here. Don’t worry though, we’ll give you full details of everything beforehand and ensure you fully understand what’s expected. This will allow you to develop the practical and communication skills necessary for life as a vet.
Computers
The computers in the practice are for the vets and veterinary support staff use only. You are not authorised to access our practice management system or any other files or the internet from our PCs. If you wish to see an animal’s history then please ask the vet who is dealing with the case at an appropriate time and they will let you see the relevant information.
In the practice
While you are seeing EMS you will be provided with a locker for your use. Wellies and protective clothing are to be left in the outbuilding. When waiting for calls or carrying out other activities, the upstairs meeting room should be used. Be aware that you may be asked to vacate the meeting room when business meetings are taking place.
We have an extensive library of reference materials which you can utilise. You are welcome to bring your own Ipad/laptop but please be aware; you will not have access to the wifi network.
On farm
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the farm environment is as safe as possible, farm animals are unpredictable, therefore you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times and be ready to react in an appropriate way. Situations can change very quickly.
On leaving a farm ensure your protective clothing is cleaned and disinfected appropriately to ensure biosecurity and to prevent contamination of vet’s vehicles.
Jewellery and watches must not be worn.
Tasks within the Practice
These are just a few things that you could help out with if we’re quiet:
- Vet’s Cars – When you return to the practice ask the vet if you can restock their car and find out what products/equipment they require. This will allow you to understand what materials are necessary to perform our jobs.
- Hot Drinks – Feel free to use the kitchen to make yourself a coffee or tea. But if you are, the rule goes that you must ask everyone else in the practice whether they’d like one as well. A list is on the wall in the kitchen explaining how everyone likes their tea/coffee.
- Newsletter – We produce a newsletter on a regular basis to inform our clients of seasonal problems and topics of interest. Any help writing an article would be much appreciated so ask one of the vets if you can help.
Essentials
- Wellingtons
- Waterproof trousers and parlour top
- A hat, warm clothes and a waterproof jacket
- Lunch
- Dress – smart casual (tie is optional)
- Please ensure no jewellery is worn while out on calls