• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DrAndyRoark.com

DrAndyRoark.com

Articles, Videos, & Training on Pets & Veterinary Medicine

  • Training
    • On-Demand Training
    • Training Tools
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Booking
  • Store
  • My account
  • Cart

Vet Tech Life

NEW RESEARCH – What REALLY Keeps Techs Engaged and Satisfied?

September 6, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

This week on the Cone!!!

New JAVMA article about what technicians really care about in their jobs. Are you providing them? Are you wasting your time and resources doing things they don’t care about? Let’s get into this!

Cone Of Shame Veterinary Podcast · COS 044: NEW RESEARCH – What REALLY Keeps Techs Engaged and Satisfied?

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.


ABOUT OUR GUEST:

David Liss has an incredibly rich and diverse background in the field of veterinary technology. A registered veterinary technician in California, David holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology. He also holds double board-certifications as a veterinary technician specialist in emergency/critical care and small animal internal medicine and has diverse background in emergency and critical care nursing in addition to being a certified veterinary practice manager (CVPM) and professional in human resources (PHR). He has been technician manager at two different twenty-four-hour referral/specialty facilities in the Los Angeles area, has contributed to numerous veterinary texts and was awarded the Veterinary Technician Educator of the Year award by Western Veterinary Conference. David also holds a Master’s inBiomedical Science. David currently is the director of operations for Amerivet in Los Angeles, runs his own consulting business: Veterinary Training and Consulting, Inc., and lectures worldwide.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

2020 Veterinary Technician/Nurse Virtual Graduation

May 6, 2020 by Andy Roark DVM MS

Date: Sunday, May 24th, 5 pm EDT / 2 pm PDT

Cost: There is no fee to graduates, schools, or guests

Register as a Graduate or Guest at: tinyurl.com/2020VetTechGrad

Dear Friends,

A few days ago, my team and I hosted an International virtual veterinary school graduation. More than 8,000 veterinary school graduates and their families and friends have watched the ceremony in the 48 hours since it became available. Almost 2,000 people attended live.

Looking back, I was deeply impacted by the comments I saw during the live event. Parents were crying in pride, graduates were rejoicing together, and veterinarians were sharing their best advice for new doctors entering our profession. It was truly amazing.

Now that we have given our full attention to help celebrate the new veterinarians entering our profession, it is time for us to do the same for our new technicians. The technician graduates who are finishing their programs have dedicated 2-4 years in pursuit of their degrees, and they deserve to be congratulated, inspired and welcomed into veterinary medicine.

My friends and colleagues, please join me Sunday, May 24th at 5 pm EDT/2 PM PDT for the first-ever Virtual Veterinary Technician School Graduation! This will be an online event taking place with music, photos, commencement speakers and an outpouring of encouragement and love.

If you are graduating with a degree in Veterinary Technology this year, please register for our virtual ceremony as a graduate, and come to be celebrated. Also, feel free to share the link with your friends, family, and colleagues so that they can attend as well.

If you are a guest of a graduate, or if you simply want to be there to support and welcome our new technicians (and possibly to get re-inspired yourself), then please register as a guest.

All are welcome, and the ceremony is free to all those who wish to attend.

Commencement speakers will include:

Kelsey Beth Carpenter RVT, BA – Veterinary Technician, social media manager for DrAndyRoark.com, and the creative personality behind “Vet Tech Kelsey”

Senani Ratnayake RVT, BSc – Owner/Founder of Motivatum Consulting, past President of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, and Director of Learning and Engagement at P3 Veterinary Partners

Andy Roark DVM, MS – Veterinarian and Founder of DrAndyRoark.com and the Uncharted Veterinary Community

Kenichiro Yagi RVT, VTS (ECC), VTS (SAIM), MS – Current President of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), Cornell Simulation Lab Manager, RECOVER Program Director, and Veterinary Technician and Nurse Advocate

Graduates, I am so excited to congratulate you on your upcoming completion of your technician programs and take the time to celebrate all you have accomplished. Even if the future appears uncertain, please know you have so much to be proud of.

I hope to “see” you there!

Best wishes,
     Dr. Andy Roark

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

Podcast Crossover! Dr. Roark Goes on VAN

March 25, 2020 by Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS

When her number one “veterinary celebrity” is already booked, Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast host Tasha McNerney asks her ol’ friend Dr. Andy Roark to be a guest on the podcast. “In all truths, Andy Roark is probably one of the most genuine and generous people in the business,” wrote the podcast host.

On this episode, the two talk about the benefits to technician utilization and team education when it relates to anesthesia and pain management.

To see more from Tasha McNerney and the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast go to her Apple Podcast page here, or search for Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds wherever you get your podcasts.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Team Culture, Vet Tech Life

Collaborative or Combative? Why the Doctor Tech Relationship Matters as Much as the Medicine

October 22, 2019 by Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS

The Technician Perspective

As a veterinary technician specialist, I get called in to consult with practices on how to make their anesthesia and pain management plans the best they can be. I sit down and review the protocols and practices, take an inventory of drugs available and converse with the staff about the flow of the surgery day. All of these things are super important when it comes to a quality patient experience however ONE THING stands out more than others. In order for the practice to be running at its highest level, the relationship between the technicians and doctors has to be one of collaboration and trust. Now I know trust is not built overnight but let me stress the importance of handing things over to your techs and letting go for a minute. 

Technicians are versatile and valuable asset to your practice. Teach them how to do ALL THE THINGS and you will see their confidence boosted and they will become more engaged and your practice will thrive. Want more time to make your phone calls or heck I don’t know… eat lunch? Teach your technicians to perform local blocks, call clients for follow up, or write discharge instructions. I have been surprised by how many clinics I visit and the technicians are scared to offer their help or suggestions because a doctor has told them their opinion doesn’t matter or to quote one technician “ to stay in her lane” when she suggested a tactic for dealing with an aggressive dog. Patient care suffers when your technicians feel they cannot be a part of the conversation regarding patient care. 

That’s not just an opinion it’s science:  In human medicine it’s been found both the safety and the quality of care patients receive depend upon the quality of relationships in the healthcare practice environment where care is provided (Joint Commission, 2008; Shen, Chiu, Lee, Hu, & Chang, 2010). Intimidating or disrespectful behavior by doctors toward nurses impacts the healthcare practice environment in a negative way, affecting both nurse retention and patient outcomes (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2010; Joint Commission, 2008; Schmalenberg & Kramer, 2009).

So, docs why can’t we work together to create the best patient outcomes? Teach your techs the way you want things done, set up a standard of care and let them flourish. But don’t just take my word for it… here’s amazeballs veterinarian Dr. Lauren Smith to give us the white coat opinion on how we can bridge the gap and maximize efficiency.

The Veterinarian Perspective

As a veterinarian, I make life and death decisions every day. I go into exam rooms and examine sick pets with emotionally distraught clients. I cut open animals and touch their insides, then put them back together. It’s a LOT of responsibility. 

At the end of the day, the buck stops with me. If a cat dies because a technician gave the wrong dose of insulin, it’s my fault. If a client gets bitten because an assistant wasn’t restraining properly, that’s on me. If a boarder doesn’t get her seizure medication and has a seizure because the client service representative didn’t mark it properly on the intake paperwork, it’s my license on the line.

Being a veterinarian is hard. And it’s easy to let the weight of all that responsibility go to your head, for better or for worse. So, I can understand why some of my fellow vets have a hard time letting go and putting their trust in their support staff. I mean, it’s easy for people to tell someone else what to do when it’s not their butt on the line, right? And besides, you’re the one who spent all those prime dating and socialization years with your head buried in a book learning how to make these decisions. You’ve given up countless opportunities and made innumerable sacrifices to get here. How can you trust anyone but yourself?

Only the real question should be, how can you not? Trust is integral in everything we do. We ask for it every day, and trust is mutual. If we ask for it, we need to be able to give it in return.

Little moments of splintered trust add up. Every time you dismiss a technician, you teach them that it’s not okay to speak up. And I wish I didn’t have to say this, but degrading and belittling others is never okay, nor is throwing or punching things (yes, I know of instances where this has happened).

And believe it or not, one day you’ll be the one to calculate a drug dose wrong, or to draw up the incorrect medication. Will your technicians feel safe speaking up? And think of all the little benefits you’ll miss out on, too – the new, more efficient way of doing things they might have suggested if they felt they’d be heard. Or maybe, just maybe, trusting them to intubate patients and read an ear cytology will free you up to finish your charts, research a case, or grab a quick break so that your mind is more focused and less likely to miss something important.

And stepping outside of ourselves for a minute — you’ll make their lives better too. Career satisfaction is strongly tied to respect from coworkers, increased responsibility, and opportunities for challenge and growth. Give your support staff these things and they’ll be happier, more productive, and may even, occasionally put us to shame… I mean, look at how many more references Tasha McNerney, CVT, CVPP, VTS, awesomest anesthesia nerd around, used in her half of this article, while I have none!

And stepping back into ourselves for a minute, having happier support staff makes going to work more pleasant. It also increases staff retention which is great since high turnover is terrible for our bottom line, our relationships with our clients, and our own sanity when we’re working chronically short-staffed. 

So next time the stress of our job starts making you crazy, lean on your staff instead of snapping at them.

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.




Dr. Lauren Smith is a 2008 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her clinical rotation at Cornell University before returning to Long Island to enter general small animal practice. Dr. Smith is a pet mom to a blue-eyed poodle mix named Frankie and a very needy cat named Charlie. She is also an aunt to a smart, funny, strong-willed niece.

Dr. Smith is the creator of The Vetitude; a website and social media presence that promotes empathy, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence in veterinary medicine. You can find out more at thevetitude.com

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

What do Techs want for Vet Tech Week?

October 14, 2019 by Kelsey Carpenter

Vet Tech Week is arguably one of the best weeks of the year. It competes only with that one week in February where I trialed the “pizza for breakfast” diet. So what are YOU doing to celebrate the superheroes of your clinic?

Ok, let’s address reality here: Some of you are procrastinators. Or – to quote the infamous Stephanie Goss – maybe your lives resemble a “dumpster fire” at the moment. That’s ok. This week can sneak up on you sometimes. So, we took to the Dr. Andy Roark Facebook page to ask Veterinary Technicians this important question: What is the best gift you’ve ever received for Vet Tech Week? Here, we’ll highlight some of their answers so that you can get them what they REALLY want this week.

Photo courtesy of Shelia E.

Make it personal!

When it comes to gifts, the more personal you make them, the more meaningful they become. Recognizing your Technician’s personal goals, interests, and hobbies is a great way to make them feel valued on a whole new level.

“I recieved a cat tree from my employers. It was super thoughtful and very much appreciated with my 5 cats!” – Erinn K.

“Personalized stickers to mark your favorite pens with.” – Katie H.

“Last year our management hand made to go cups with our names on them and pawprints. Filled with candy.” – Krista B.

Get your reps involved.

Did you know you can reach out to your drug/food reps for help? We heard lots of stories of reps getting involved and making some great celebrations possible! Remember, they appreciate Vet Techs, too!

“My all time favorite was last year our rep did a mani/pedi on our day off with a full mimosa/Bloody Mary bar!” – Lynette K.

“My hospital spoiled the crap out of us all week. They organized with different reps to provide us with buffett style Breakfast and Lunch every day.” – Katie H.

Food. Always food.

Lauren A. summed this one up perfectly when she said “I’ve never known a vet clinic to turn down free food, especially on busy days when we just need something to shove in our mouth between tasks.” One of the many ways to a Veterinary Professional’s heart is definitely through the stomach, so don’t skimp on the food this week!

“We get a full breakfast of sausages, eggs, bacon, french toast, fruit etc made bright and early in the morning by one of doctors. It is so nice!” – Magda J.

“The best “ present” I ever got were the doctors making us breakfast. Homemade breakfast was the best.” – Adria B.

Include the clients and coworkers!

Vet Tech Week doesn’t all have to come from management. Remember that appreciation from clients and coworkers is a fantastic gift, as well! Use your lobby, your website, and your social media to help involve clients in the Tech Week celebrations, and make sure the rest of your staff has the opportunity to say thank you, too!

“We…do a special feature on Facebook so clients can leave mushy sweet comments and let the techs now how appreciated they are!” – Maria P.

“We had an associate vet that was sooooo incredibly thoughtful and kind. She…made signs about loving the techs and put them in the lobby. Each one was one of our names.” – Amanda M.

“Client here for what I consider the best vet hospital ever! Every year I bake for the entire staff & I try to do this a few times during the year – the entire staff deserves to be acknowledged & appreciated – love them all!!” – Cynthia G.

“My favorite has been having everyone write a compliment for every other coworker and then compiling all of the compliments for each person into one document (often inside one of their gifts).” – Susan S.

“Cards from coworkers of props for all I do. I know I shouldn’t need it but it feels so good to know you are recognized.” – Mandi T.

Massages. All the massages!

Being a Veterinary Technician is a back-breaking job (both literally and figuratively). Massages was BY FAR the most popular gift mentioned by our Vet Tech community! These can come in the form of group outings, gift cards, or – quite possibly best of all – bringing a masseuse in to the clinic for massages on site!

“The last two years we’ve gotten 15 minute chair massages. It’s awesome!” – Lisa L.

“Last year we got chair massages from a massage therapist and it felt great!” – Vickie H.

“Massages would also help the achy ouch’s days that build up.” – Amy F.

So much room for activities!

It doesn’t all have to be food and goodies. Sometimes activities and experiences are just as great a gift, and a great bonding experience as well. Here are just a few ideas:

Photo courtesy of Lynette K.

“I…have made tye dye scrub tops for my staff – that’s something fun for them (and fun to make as well)! Any white scrub top will work, some fabric soaks it in better. But it’s really easy! Get dye on amazon or local craft store!” – Lynette K.

“Our associate veterinarian, who also happens to be our friend, has treated us to a Broadway show almost every year the past few years. It has been SO much fun and it’s great that we get to hang out with one another outside of work.” – Robbyn M.

“I think my crew/me would appreciate getting out early one night planned and concrete and going out to appreciate each other and relax!” – Amy F.

Assorted goodies.

There were so many great gift ideas listed in the Facebook thread (click that link to check it out for yourself!) Here are just a few highlights:

“Doctor treated LVT to a cooking class to cook the own meal and dessert. It was awesome!” – Stacy B.

Photo courtesy of Kate P.

“We are also giving out “coupons” as prizes this year – get off 1 your early, I don’t have to clean that kennel, t shirt day, etc.” – Kassie N.

“Highlighters to coordinate my anesthetic charts!” – Hailey C.

“Money goes a long way in making me feel appreciated.” – Erin M.

“Snarky vet tech coloring book. 😂 and movie passes. ♥️” – Angel P.

“$50 Amazon gift card and a tumbler with my name on it!” – Heather G.

Good old-fashioned gratitude.

Sometimes, the easiest gift is also the one that means the most. Remember that when it comes down to it, this week is about appreciating Veterinary Technicians for their skill, compassion, and grit. It’s a tough job, and it takes some really special individuals to fill it! And while no one does it for the purpose of being thanked, acknowledgement can still mean the world.

“A sincere note from a supervisor or coworker also goes a long way.” – Mary M.

“Sincere respect and appreciation goes a long way Techs who feel appreciated are great employees who shine.” – Keri W.

“Topped it off with a hand written card with how much I appreciated every single one of them. Gratitude goes so far and it was my honor to dedicate my time to such an awesome staff.” – Daniele I.

“I stepped into Heaven when I took this job 7 yrs ago. I have never once left the building without the Dr or management looking me in the eye and saying “thank you for your help today.” – Krista B.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

If You Need to Leave, It’s Okay

October 6, 2019 by Dr. Andy Roark Community

The average vet tech’s career is 7-10 years. Did you know that? I did. And after 5 years in veterinary medicine, I thought I almost made it. That statistic won’t get me. Here I am. I have arrived. But it’s funny how quickly things can change.

When I became pregnant, I thought how serendipitous my situation was. I worked long but varying days as a vet tech and my husband was home during the day, working evenings and weekends as a musician. This is perfect! He’ll be home with the baby in the daytime while I’m at work, and I’ll just make sure I’m home before he has to leave. Things were falling into place perfectly; life was putting a path in front of us and we knew exactly what to do.

Then I went into labor, had a cesarean section under general anesthesia, and woke up to the most beautiful human I have ever seen lying on my chest. It’s amazing how quickly things can change. When you’re pregnant everyone tells you, “just you wait, everything is different after you have kids,” but they never tell you how. Maybe it’s something different for everyone. For me, this tiny little boy, yawning under a knitted hat, needed me more than anything in this world and I could not leave him.

Postpartum was hard for me. I had complications that made me closely examine my life in a way I’d rather not have. I spent weeks grappling with the decision: If I leave, am I giving up everything I’ve worked so hard for? If I stay, am I giving up precious time with my baby? My identity had largely become based around what I did for a living and if I wasn’t vet teching, wasn’t even working… then who was I? Ultimately my husband got a day job and I resigned. I felt horrible, like I was abandoning everyone I worked with, and after everything they’d done for me. I felt selfish. But guess what? They understood. And guess what else? Life went on without me and the whole hospital didn’t fall apart. 

My son is 8 months old now, I love being a stay at home mom, and my former bosses and coworkers are still doing just fine. Maybe that should be a bruise to the ego, but it’s a relief. I am not so important that the entire system will fall apart without me. Others will not crumble in my absence. This relieves me of the guilt that I felt for doing something that was really important to myself and my family. 

I know not everyone can do this. To be honest, I’m amazed that we have. If you have to work or want to work, there’s no judgment here. I felt strongly about something and I’m lucky that I was able to make it happen. But feeling strongly about it didn’t make it easy. I felt guilty, I questioned if I was doing the right thing. I questioned my whole identity.

If I’m being completely honest, I was feeling burnt out anyway, I just never let myself think about it until I actually thought about it. Then it was amazing how quickly things changed. Time and distance have refreshed my passion for veterinary medicine. I don’t know when I’m coming back or where I’m going, but I know I’m excited to see where I end up. I might feel very differently if I had never turned my whole life upside-down.

There’s no way to sugarcoat the fact that this is a hard career to maintain. My point is, only you know what’s right for you and you have to follow your own happiness. I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow, but if there’s something else you want to be doing then try to figure out a way to do it. If you’re not happy, start looking for something else. Change jobs, or change careers. Sure, things might be upside down for a while, but you would figure it out. You can always figure something out. No job is worth your happiness, your wellbeing, or your life. They will be fine without you, and you don’t owe anyone anything. If what you’re doing is swallowing you up, get out while you still can.

Because no matter how bad it seems, things can always change.

If you need to take a break it’s okay. If you need to leave, it’s okay.

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.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Candace is a graduate of the St. Petersburg College Veterinary Technology program and Certified Veterinary Technician in the Tampa Bay Area. In addition to being a CVT, she also holds a Bachelors degree in psychology from the University of South Florida – St. Petersburg. She shares a home with her husband, son and dog Sadie. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and changing song lyrics to make the song about Sadie.


Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life, Wellness

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 9
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Footer

  • Staff Training
  • Training Tools
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Booking
  • About Us
  • CONTACT
  • CONTRIBUTE
  • Privacy Policy
  • My account

Connect With Us

NEWSLETTER
Copyright 2021 Dr. Andy Roark
Our Privacy Policy | Website by OfficeThug
  •  

  •  

  •  

  •