Reprinted with permission from Smart Flow Sheet. It really is quite simple to not be a jerk in veterinary medicine. Step number one, don't be a jerk. If you are not sure what not being a jerk looks like, just follow these next steps: Did you just walk past that diarrhea bomb? I didn't think so. Get back there and clean up that explosion. You are on your 15th smoke break (and you don't even smoke)? Put your phone down and get back into the game. You assume someone else is going to clean up your IV catheter mess? Not likely. Now treat this clinic like it is a 5-star resort. I hear the phone ringing. Do you hear it ringing? Help a receptionist out and answer the call. Floors don't mop themselves. Wouldn't that be nice? Fill up a bucket and get to work. You don't work well with others? Not an option! Be polite, even if it hurts. It takes you how long to fill that RX? Stop wasting time. What, you mean showing up at 8:05 isn't the same as starting at 8? Nope, not in my book. Respect that everyone's time is as important as yours. Did you really just tell me how lazy everyone else is? Running your mouth is not cool. Did you just take the last one of those and walk away? Restock or reorder! I believe most of us are guilty of being a jerk at one point or another in our veterinary medicine careers. When you are guilty of doing these things on a daily basis it just might be time for a change.
