DrAndyRoark.com

Articles, Videos, & Training on Pets & Veterinary Medicine

Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS

What to Do When the Grass IS Greener

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Guess what you guys?! After 15 years (yes you read that right 15 years!!!) at my animal hospital, I accepted a new job. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but something came along that made me want to get outside of my comfort zone for a whole lot of personal growth and even some profit. Now I’m here to tell you, sometimes the grass really IS greener in the dog kennel area of another hospital; but before you clear out your locker and shoot one last dirty look to that catty co-worker, make sure you are leaving the right way.

1. Make sure you are leaving for the right reasons.

If your main reason for leaving is that “your boss is a jerk,” changing clinics might not be the cure. You don’t know how long it will take for your clinic to move on and fill your position if you decide to change your mind. If you’re still on the fence about the next position you are considering taking, ask if you can spend a day in the new clinic shadowing the staff. It may reinforce your decision to take the position or help you decide you don’t want the new job after all.

For myself, it was a big growth opportunity that swayed me to change scrub colors. Look at the reasons you are considering changing jobs, make sure they fit the quality of life you are trying to achieve, and please DO NOT base your decision solely on money. Look at many facets such as: vacation time, benefits, flexibility in schedule, opportunities for advancement, etc.

2. If you have decided to go ahead and move on, do it respectfully.

Sit down with your boss and discuss your resignation with them before you discuss it with your co-workers over margaritas. This is important because this can give your employer feedback and help them plan for future employees. It also allows the opportunity for your current employer to negotiate with you in order to keep you if you’re a stellar employee.

Do not badmouth management or staff especially online! I cannot stress this enough. People have long memories about criticism, and even if you hated your job or your boss, there’s no point in saying so. Just be happy you are moving on to a new, fresh opportunity.

3. If you plan these conversations ahead, you’ll be able to leave on good terms and in the clinic’s good graces.

That’s the best way to move on from a job, especially since vet med is a small world and you may end up working with some of your former coworkers or previous boss at other jobs in the future.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Merry Mentoring: Consider Giving the Gift of Time and Knowledge This Holiday Season

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I like a Starbucks gift card as much as the next guy. I also like a new pair of gloves to keep as extras in the car. There are many small gifts you can give your employees and co-workers during this holiday season, but one stands out as the most valuable and rewarding of them all. Consider instead of the lotto tickets and gift cards, giving your time and attention and mental energy. I know it sounds like a big ask… and you’re probably thinking:

“Where will this extra time come from?”

“Who do I direct this attention onto?” and

“How can I invest more mental energy, I’m already near the point of running away screaming from veterinary medicine?”

I will tell you it’s no easy task but I urge you to take this time of year to see how you can be of service to the learning and career development of your team members. Maybe send your techs to a conference, or  get them a copy of a book they have been eyeing, or (the best one in my eyes), become a mentor. Taking time to check in with your team and take an active interest in developing their skills and interest can serve your practice in many different ways. Let’s look at some ways mentoring can boost morale and patient care at your practice:

1. Mentoring is especially useful in helping new technicians improve their self-confidence, and develop real-world skills such as advanced catheter placement and regional nerve blocks.

2. Mentoring also fosters leadership skills that technicians can use to advance their careers when it comes time for them to consider leadership or management roles.

3. Mentoring relationships inside the veterinary hospital can help improve team morale. Team members who feel that their professional interests are acknowledged and fostered tend to stay at these clinics longer, reducing the cost of turnover.

If you have a team member that is looking to take on more responsibility, or has a particular area of interest that they want to grow, consider starting a mentor program in your practice. You can pair experienced clinicians with newer grads, and seasoned technicians with others that want to grow in areas such as critical care or anesthesia. An important thing to note is: the mentor and mentee must trust each other. They both must give constructive feedback, both positive and negative. Above all, mentors let mentees know that they believe the mentee will succeed in their chosen area of advancement.

So, this year before you pick up another houseplant for your secret Santa, consider investing time and energy in the team development first.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Bubble Baths for Burnout? I Don’t Think So

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We have heard it all before. If you’re feeling burnout at work, do some things to help relieve your stress. Binge a show on Netflix, get a massage, and take a long bubble bath. But, what happens when you’re a person who hates sitting still?

It’s no surprise that after 15 years in the veterinary medical field, I’m feeling a bit burnt out. I went looking for ways to not become a hard lump of charcoal and came across many of the above-mentioned pieces of advice. I downloaded some guided meditation playlists, I started essential oils, I considered goat yoga. But, as I sat in a huge bathtub of bubbles contemplating my life and career choices I realized this was making me more anxious and left me feeling drained (bathtub pun!)

I realized that everyone processes stress differently and everyone relaxes differently. I’m the type of person who can’t sit still and have a few browsers open in my brain at all times. Scientific research suggests that when we stress about relaxing, we simply cannot actually zen out enough. So, for those that are like me here are a few things you can do to de-stress that do not involve spa music.

1. Exercise

Cardio, weightlifting, swimming, running (blech! I actually despise running, but I keep hearing about this elusive runners high so…). When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body.

2. Engage in a creative activity that has nothing to do with vet med

Painting, improv comedy, creating a music playlist for a few friends, even knitting. Repetitive motions (like the fine motor skills used to knit or cross-stitch) can soothe anxiety, according to avid knitter and pediatrician, Perri Klass, M.D.

3. Go green

Houseplants aren’t just beautiful air purifiers — they can actually help calm you down. One Washington State University study found that a group of stressed-out people who entered a room full of plants had a four-point drop in their blood pressure, while a comparison group who didn’t see plants dropped only two points. Going outside also helps! Simply taking a 20 minute walk in nature, park or other green space, can put your body into a state of meditation, thanks to a phenomenon known as “involuntary attention” during which something holds our attention, but simultaneously allows for reflection.

So, I’m taking my own advice. I bought about 27 houseplants and am currently writing a script for a music video. I hate exercising, but hey, it’s a work in progress.

See below for a few books and resources that may help you along your journey:

  • Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
  • A Book That Takes Its Time, by Irene Smit and‎ Astrid van der Hulst
  • Lohr, V.I., C.H. Pearson-Mims, and G.K. Goodwin. 1996. Interior plants may improve worker productivity and reduce stress in a windowless environment.  J. of Environmental Horticulture 14(2):97-100

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Anesthetic Deaths Happen to Anesthesia Experts, Too

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As an anesthesia technician, one of the things we are told early on is that if you don’t have a death under anesthesia “you aren’t doing enough anesthesia.” This can be a hard fact to stomach, but it’s true. If like me, you’re performing anesthesia for 80 percent of your day at work you see death from many causes whether it be drug related or caused by a disease process unable to compensate for the changes in physiology caused by anesthesia. A 2012 study showed that an overall death rate for animals undergoing anesthesia was 1.35 percent.

So, what do you do when you and your patient fall into that 1.35 percent? How do you as a team leader guide your staff through the tragedy and all of the feelings associated? How do you pick up the pieces and move on to other surgeries and other patients that need your expertise? And how do you do all of these things when the patient belongs to one of your own team members?

About three weeks ago that’s exactly what was swirling around in my head as I tried to comprehend what was unfolding.

I have been in the anesthesia field for 14 years and I have to say it’s my love, it’s my comfortable bed in the clinic. I know the beep and hum of my monitors and am soothed by the swishing of a doppler. I have a respect for death because in anesthesia he is always waiting in the corner. But as I have become more proficient with this field, he has shrunk down. Over time, he has even started to blend in with the walls.

When this tragedy struck our hospital, I had all of the same questions I usually do as a supervisor: How? Why? When? Where? Trying to piece together details to come to an informed decision and explain how this could have happened. But the different thing was: this wasn’t another employee I was trying to rationalize with and talk down before they leave vet med completely forever… this time I was talking to myself. I was the technician in charge of this pet and I had failed.

I had missed something, I was incapable of fixing this problem. As other employees rallied around me I noticed how supportive they were. They could have easily come around with blame and anger and gossip but instead it was love. I received the most profound statement from my hospital administrator, a simple text message that read:

“I am so sorry you are going through this tragedy. We will process this together, we will heal together, and if a change needs to be made, we will do it together.”

If only all practice cultures could get on board with this! We are a team, we will do this together, we will have fun together, we will go through tragedy, and we will be a better team because we will do it together.

I still have so much self-doubt and guilt when it comes to this situation. I wish I could have done more. For a minute I questioned whether or not I should continue in vet med. But, I am an anesthesia technician. Death and I can share the same space. I just hope he doesn’t think I will leave my love when I become part of the 1.35 percent.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

Top 5 Reasons to Date Another Veterinary Professional

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Happy Valentines Day! Remember when you looked at a colleague that started dating someone in the veterinary industry with shock and horror? Well, I’m here to tell you why dating a fellow veterinary professional might just be the best thing ever.

#5- Someone who understands your schedule.

Can’t make it to dinner because you’re still in surgery with that emergency foreign body? That’s cool. Your veterinary love will understand. And possibly offer to come over and help you with the anesthetic recovery. And possibly bring you dinner so you can eat the pizza together while standing over the recovering bulldog and placing bets on extubation time.

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#4- Someone whose heart bleeds just as much as yours.

This will be someone who will help you pick up that injured animal on the side of the road and take it to the animal control/wildlife rehab facility/your house without being upset that you’re now late for the movie.

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#3- Someone who will be down for an adventure.

Your veterinary sweetheart will be able to multitask and roll with the punches. Kid just vomited in the car? No problem, they have cleaned up way worse. Dishwasher is broken? No worries, they are used to eating out of a paper cat food dish with tongue depressor utensils. Brought another dog home? Great! They always wanted a one eyed pug.

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#2- Someone to help medicate the pets (and possibly children)

Your veterinary bae can give a pill to a cat with their eyes closed. Not to mention the benefit of having a built in assistant knowledgeable in proper patient restraint for in house nail trims. The baby needs eye drops? No sweat…they once had to give eye drops to a cocker spaniel out for blood.

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#1- Two Words: Unisex Scrubs

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.

5 Questions You Need to Answer Before Anesthetic Procedures

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Oftentimes our clients are faced with the decision whether or not to put their pets under general anesthesia for a surgical or dental procedure. Patients do not get the care they need when pet parents are scared of anesthesia.

During this time, they look to us, the knowledgeable veterinary staff, for answers. With so many advances in the field of veterinary anesthesia there are many reasons why anesthetic procedures are safer than ever!

Here are the 5 questions you should be able to answer before a pet undergoes an anesthetic procedure.

1. What pre-op testing is required?

Often pre-op blood work can give you early clues to potential diseases such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Also it is important to check the function of both the liver and the kidneys since they are the organs responsible for processing and clearing anesthetic drugs from the body.

If the pet is a senior more in depth pre-op diagnostics such as and ECG or cardiac ultrasound should be considered to ensure the patient’s heart is healthy enough for some anesthetic drugs. Getting a clear picture before anesthesia can ensure that the most appropriate drugs are used.

2.Who will be monitoring the patient?

Today’s technology allows people to do more tasks at the same time, and there is a strong myth that we can “multitask”. A 2008 study at the University of Michigan showed that we don’t do lots of things simultaneously. Instead, we switch our attention from task to task extremely quickly.

As the technician in charge of a case, I want to focus solely on the anesthetic event. So, it helps that many veterinary practices now have a technician whose sole job is to monitor the pet under anesthesia. This is very important because with a dedicated technician anesthetist, the doctor can focus solely on the surgical or dental procedure being performed.

3.What monitors will be used during the anesthetic event?

During anesthesia it is important to monitor changes in temperature, blood pressure, and ventilation. These changes can influence not only what drugs will be used in the post-operative period, but will help guide the quality of recovery for your patient.

In the age of Dr. Google and information symmetry, your clients know what’s available.  Be prepared to have a conversation with the client to explain why properly monitoring blood pressure in those senior pets is so important!

4.What should the pet parents expect during recovery?

Some surgeries will only require a short recovery time.  Orthopedic and dentistry procedures that have required multiple extractions may require a longer recovery time. After surgery patients may be unsteady on their feet and unable to walk up or down stairs.

If the pet usually sleeps upstairs in the owners’ bed, it’s important to set up a comfortable area on the first floor for the patient to rest in when they come home, or be prepared to carry that patient up and down the stairs! And be realistic with expectations.

5. What will the pain management plan be?

Almost every surgical and dental procedure will involve some level of pain. Be ready to talk with the clients about the expected level of pain and how this pain will be treated. Talk about the need for post-operative physical therapy.

Orthopedic procedures greatly benefit from post-operative physical therapy such as hydrotherapy, massage therapy, and low level laser therapy. Many pain medications have to be administered orally. If it is difficult to give those patients a pill, work on other options to ensure the pet stays comfortable in the recovery period.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the DrAndyRoark.com editorial team.