Vet Tech Life

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

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.

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:

“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.

“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.