Whether you are a vet or nurse, locum work offers freedom and variety, but those first days in a new practice can feel intense. There are new people to meet, different protocols to learn, and a new layout to navigate. Confidence comes from preparation — a few smart habits and the right kit make almost any day manageable. Here are 8 tips to help you thrive as a veterinary locum.
Regulatory and tax requirements change between countries, and sometimes between regions. Before you start, make sure you’re clear on prescribing rules, controlled-drug registers, and any local idiosyncrasies. For finances, an accountant who understands locum and relief work is worth their fee. Ask peers for recommendations, then set things up so tax time isn’t a scramble — you’ll save stress, and likely money.
If your booking doesn’t arrive with a welcome pack, write your own checklist and bring it on day one. Ask about preventative care protocols, common prices, computer logins, local referral pathways, and the nearest emergency centre. Check whether the practice runs a health plan, whether you can order in food or medicines for clients, and how that process works. If you can learn the practice management system beforehand, do. A quick scan of the website helps too — you’ll spot names, roles, and the general tone of the place before you walk in.
Keep a small notebook or digital note with your personal pre-medication and anaesthesia guidelines, plus an emergency drug chart. You won’t always need it, but when you do, it saves minutes and worry.
Some practices provide a dress code or a temporary uniform; others leave it to you. Dark work trousers, a clean scrub top, closed-toe shoes, and a spare set for surgery will see you right. Pack a name badge, clean theatre shoes, and a scrub cap if you prefer your own. Colour conventions vary between countries and clinics — in the UK, for instance, Registered Veterinary Nurses often wear green — so aim to blend with the team. If you’re unsure, check team photos on the practice website and match the general look.
Arrive a few minutes early, introduce yourself to reception, and learn the geography of the building before the day begins. Ask how the team prefers handovers, who to call for pharmacy queries, and where the crash box lives. Confirm how they like results and callbacks recorded, then mirror that style. Write down names as you go — you’ll meet a lot of people at once, and getting names right builds rapport quickly.
Bring the essentials you reach for every day: a reliable stethoscope, a watch with a second hand or a fob watch, a couple of pens, a small notebook, a thermometer, and a simple calculator. Ask whether there’s a dosimeter available for locums; some practices provide one, others expect you to bring your own. Label everything with your name. In a new building, kit has a way of walking.
Even with years of experience, you’ll meet cases you haven’t seen before — or you’ll encounter a local protocol that’s different from the last place. Digital textbooks are easiest to travel with, and keeping an up-to-date formulary to hand pays off every week, since they can be hard to track down in a practice you aren’t familiar with. Many clinicians also find VIN invaluable for deep dives and forum perspectives when you’re working solo. You’ll have your own favourites, of course, but a shortlist you trust reduces decision fatigue.
Client handouts aren’t a given in every practice, so carry a few bookmarked resources you like. The WSAVA advice for selecting a pet food is useful for diet conversations, and the Blue Cross and RSPCA have advice pages with clear overviews you can print or link to. A small USB with your go-to leaflets, or even a note of URLs in your diary, prevents last-minute searches.
Nobody should practise in a vacuum. Set up a WhatsApp or Messenger group with colleagues who are happy to be pinged for a quick sense-check, and join a couple of online communities that match your areas of interest. You’ll use them for clinical questions, but also for the practicalities of working in a new region — from prescription rules to variations in preventative healthcare. Knowing you have back-up makes sole-charge days less lonely.
Lots of bookings is great, but a packed diary is a trap. Make sure you leave realistic travel buffers between clinics, block proper rest days, and add a margin at the end of runs so you can reset. As you’re self-employed, nobody is going to force you to take annual leave, so it’s important to make sure you book those spaces to take breaks and reset. Whether you use a wall planner, a digital calendar, or both, keep everything in one place and avoid over-committing. Locum life should be sustainable — not a sprint from placement to placement.
Success as a veterinary locum comes down to the right mix of planning, kit, and human connection. Prepare well, dress to blend in, bring the tools you trust, and know where to find answers when you need them. Add a supportive network, tidy finances, and a schedule that respects your energy, and you’ll walk into each new practice with calm confidence — ready to get on with the job.