Pre-clinical extra-mural studies (EMS) placements will allow you to learn vital animal husbandry skills. Historically, the RCVS guidelines stipulated 12 weeks of pre-clinical EMS, but as of September 2024, this requirement was reduced to 10 weeks. You will complete these placements across a variety of areas with the aim of:
- broadening your knowledge of different production systems
- improving your animal handling skills
- getting important insight into the role of vets from the perspective of clients
- appreciating the day-to-day running of farms and veterinary clinics
You will gain different experiences and learn various skills during each placement, whether calf rearing, lambing, dog walking, or helping on a stud farm. But before you get your wellies and waterproofs on, here are ten tips to help you maximise your pre-clinical EMS placements.
Tip 1: Plan your EMS placements
As a general rule of thumb, planning helps! Consider what types of placement you want to do, in what geographical areas, and how long to spend on each. Once you have decided what to book, use a planner (digital or paper, as you prefer) to ensure you don’t have any diary clashes. Note your term times so you don’t inadvertently book an overlapping placement, and consider the time of year. If you want to see calving, there won’t be much benefit from a summer placement on a dairy farm that calves in springtime. Keep a note of the name and contact details of the placement provider once you have booked it so you can quickly get in touch beforehand with any questions you may have.
Tip 2: Get peers to recommend EMS placements
Some placement providers have much time and enthusiasm to invest in their EMS students. However, if your placement choice lands badly, you may find yourself set up as a glorified poo picker which can make for a long and reasonably fruitless week! Asking your university EMS organiser or peers in higher years for firsthand recommendations can give you a much better chance of finding a placement that is going to be enjoyable and worthwhile, although maybe not wholly devoid of poo.
Tip 3: Set learning objectives and goals
Before starting a placement, think about what you want to get out of it – maybe you want to learn how to stomach tube a lamb, handle horses more confidently, or improve your teamwork skills. If your university provides specific learning objectives, you can highlight your goals. Either way, you should communicate your aims to the placement provider at the start so they are well-placed to help you accomplish them. Ticking things off a list will help you see your progress and can be rewarding and self-motivating.
Tip 4: Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Remember, you are there to learn; asking questions is a great way to do this. If you are unsure how to complete a job, interested in why a particular medicine is being administered, or curious about what breed an animal is—ask! Showing curiosity and willingness to learn will strengthen your understanding and demonstrate your enthusiasm to your placement provider, which can only be good.
Tip 5: Be proactive
EMS provides incredible learning opportunities, but you will never learn as much by standing on the sidelines as you will by jumping in and getting your hands dirty—very literally, in many cases. Make yourself available, ask to get involved, and offer to help (even with the mundane tasks—they need doing too). You will learn more by disentangling ten dystocias yourself than you ever could by watching a thousand lambings. As well as being a much more efficient and enjoyable way to learn, the team will appreciate a proactive approach.
Tip 6: Learn more than the science
Communicating well and understanding your client base is arguably just as important as the scientific side of veterinary medicine. Try to familiarise yourself with equine and farming jargon so you don’t start stacking bales if asked to ‘hay up’. Never feel silly asking for clarification on terminology you haven’t heard before; some differ by region. You might have ewes in Hampshire, but they will be yows in Scotland!
Pre-clinical EMS is also an excellent opportunity to learn about the economic aspects of the farming industry: what is the current farmgate price per litre of milk, and how does that differ from 10 years ago? This broader understanding of the industry will improve your ability to communicate with farmers when they inevitably become your clients.
Tip 7: Embrace different approaches
Not everything you learn in your lectures will be practised precisely as you have been taught. Experienced farmers may have methods that differ slightly—or dramatically!—from academic teachings. Respect their experience—EMS can provide great opportunities to learn from this practical knowledge. Unless you have a severe welfare concern, it is usually best to observe, ask questions and learn rather than challenge their methods. You can research what you saw later, but you will generally find farmers with 40 years of experience aren’t particularly interested in having their methods criticised by first-year vet students!
Tip 8: Know your limits
Although EMS is incredibly fun—who doesn’t love riding quadbikes and being bundled by a troop of orphan lambs?!—there is no denying that it is often physically and mentally demanding. Try to establish your working hours before starting each placement and communicate your need for breaks if necessary. You should know your limits in terms of your skill levels as well. If you are asked to do something beyond your knowledge or confidence level, speak up and seek the support you need to complete the skill correctly and safely. Understanding and respecting your limits will create a safer and more productive learning environment for yourself.
Tip 9: Reflect on your experiences
The thought of reflection might set off an involuntary twitch in your right eye. Still, it is a crucial tool for learning and something you will need to continue doing throughout your veterinary life—so start practising now! Take notes or keep a diary during your placements, and find five minutes at the end of each day to reflect on what you have learned and achieved. It will reinforce your learning, identify gaps in your knowledge, and track your progress over time. It doesn’t need to take long. Jot down any questions that spring to mind that you may want to ask or research later.
Tip 10: Make tea
Offering to make a round of tea for a busy, tired team is a simple gesture that the staff will appreciate. As well as simply being a kind thing to do, it may also provide the opportunity to share some downtime with the team. You will get to know them on a much more personal level over a cup of tea than you will do in an operating theatre. In addition to making your placement more enjoyable, having a good relationship with the staff can lead to suitable references, an invitation for a clinical EMS placement, and maybe even a job offer at the end. Of course, this point goes beyond a cuppa; always be professional, courteous, and personable, and remember to say please and thank you.
So, you’re out of the starting blocks but just at the beginning of your EMS journey. It’s wise to get into good habits, such as planning and reflecting, early—these skills will help you through the rest of your degree and beyond as you transition from veterinary student to veterinary surgeon. By utilising these ten tips from EMSX, you can maximise the benefits of your placements. Grasp every opportunity, embrace the challenges, and, most of all, enjoy yourself. Good luck!