Veterinary and AHT locums, the misunderstood?

14 October 2019

We hear many different preconceived impressions of locums, and we hear them regularly! The comments stand out and are common to both the community of dedicated AHT and Veterinarians who use Oxilia. They are so frequent, we decided to make a list to demystify the topic!

LOCUMS ONLY THINK ABOUT MONEY?!

Locums appreciate the fact that they determine the value of their services. But imagine that it is their only motivation, their professional life would be very painful! In fact, here’s what our members report as a source of motivation:

-Work in different institutions to find one that they really like;

-Learn faster by being exposed to a variety of styles of practice;

-Can combine travel and work. This practice is not new, there have always been locums to help out in remote areas;

-The ability to reconcile several projects, such as a return to school, frequent trips without causing conflict within a stable team.

LOCUMS DO NOT DEVELOP A BOND WITH THE REST OF THE TEAM AND HAVE NO SENSE OF BELONGING

Even we are surprised to see some form of “routine” among locums and institutions! Many locums divide their time between a small number of clinics, 2-3 normally. They do indeed find a “fit” with the teams! Many are invited to the Christmas party!
Over time, we see locums moving into full-time positions. AHT’s and veterinarians, by their helping nature towards animals, are generally gregarious people.

LOCUMS ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE! IT’S LIKE HAVING A NEW EMPLOYEE.

Oh, that’s wrong! Our theory: we suspect that substitutes develop the areas of their brains responsible for the adaptability and management of stress: the hippocampus, amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. They are able to adapt very quickly to new environments that are normally a source of stress for individuals who stay longer in their comfort zone! A bit like a frequent traveler arriving at an unknown station, he finds his bearings almost automatically. In addition, many testify to us that they accumulate all the tricks of the trade by working with a variety of professionals in a variety of settings!

LOCUMS MUST BE FICKLE IF THEY CHANGE PLACES OFTEN

This preconception looks like the previous one! Remember that each locum is like a mini-entrepreneur; if the customer is not satisfied with the performance, his services will no longer be solicited. They want to prove to you that you made a good choice by selecting them. Veterinary medicine is a small world…

LOCUMS DO NOT HAVE A STABLE JOB OR A FIXED SALARY

The majority of locums do have a fixed job and therefore a salary. Locums will come to help out the clinic for a variety of reasons; variety in their experience, fitting hours, help high volume clinics meet their demands, to prove oneself, and to obtain a supplementary income. Some locums do it full time. On the other hand, it is rarely a situation that lasts for decades. Changes in personal life (young children, a new spouse, a move, aging parents, etc.) are pushing them to adjust their schedules and seek more or less stability. You see, these locums could be you! Let’s be honest, no one studies veterinary medicine to become rich. It is the passion to help animals that inhabit us and we all share the desire to make their lives better. The Oxilia team has the chance to interact daily with its members and we have a certainty; We are proud to help meet the human resource needs of caring professionals who want as many animals as possible to receive high quality care.

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