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Vet Tech Life

How My Vet Tech Teachers Ruined My Tech Career

October 16, 2015 by Dr. Andy Roark Community

Not all vet techs are created equal. I don’t mean this to belittle anyone, or for it to be a bad thing. It’s just a fact. We all start out in this field because we love animals (and very obviously not because we love money), but the paths we take lead to very different clinics and positions. I believe that our teachers in college have an immense impact on what kind of technicians we become.

I, for one, was greatly influenced by my teachers, and therefore very much ruined for the rest of my career. All it took was one sentence really, and the rest of my career path was chosen for me.

To be fair, there were other ingredients in the mix that shaped me as an RVT. My first clinic for example had impeccable medicine, high standards for patient comfort, and immeasurable care they provided to pets and owners alike. At this clinic I learned that baby birds were to be loved, and not immediately euthanized, and that all lives matter. My role model Nicole, who to this day I still call the RVT who taught me everything I know, instilled a certain pride for the profession in me that was unshakable.

Then came school, and the phrase that was the last puzzle piece in my stance of who I became as an RVT.

“You are the advocates.”

To this day, I remember this phrase. I remember hearing it, and tucking it away in the back of my mind as something important, yet not really something I thought a great deal about.

It didn’t resonate with me at the time, as I had a solid foundation of what I thought vet clinics were about, and what I thought I would be able to contribute to my profession. Then came reality.

My fellow technician crusaders and I were just discussing how many clinics we have worked at during our careers. I counted 12.

Yes, I am one of those crazy people that works 2 to 3 different jobs at any given time, however the numbers are also up there because some clinics just simply didn’t measure up.

That one phrase in school had cemented my moral and ethical must-haves when it came to where I chose to work, and finding the right fit was not always easy. Where I found that patient care and comfort was lacking, I spoke up. I was being The Advocate. Some clinics welcomed it, some didn’t.

Being the advocate comes with a heavy burden of responsibility, stress, and sometimes compassion fatigue. It also comes with pride in the RVT behind my name, and when I feel that I have made a difference in an animal’s life, where someone else had dropped the ball.

Being the advocate is hard work. It is emotional. It is taxing. Do I blame my teachers for this extra burden I have had to bear for the last 12 years? Yes. Would I do it all over again if given the choice? Absolutely.

Reprinted with permission from Smartflowsheet.com


unnamedBorn in Hungary, but raised in London, Ontario, Canada, Anna was bringing stray cats home from a very early age. She has been an RVT since 2003, working in both general practices and emergency facilities, often with orphaned kittens or wildlife in tow. A big part of her life in the last few years has been helping veterinary clinics improve their patient care with Smart Flow. Check out more of her blogs at http://blog.smartflowsheet.com.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

Mystery Solved! How Vet Techs Get It All Done

October 15, 2015 by Andy Roark DVM MS

 

For years we’ve wondered – how do veterinary technicians handle a dozen tasks at once? At last, we have our answer, and they’re not going to be happy the secret is out.

 

 

[tweetthis]Vet team secrets revealed: How technicians get it all done [/tweetthis]

Filed Under: Videos Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

Why I Don’t Want To Be A ‘Technician’

October 14, 2015 by Dr. Andy Roark Community

 

A conversation I had a few days ago on an Uber ride home started with a common question on what I do for a living. I replied “I am veterinary technician”.

 

Insert awkward pause here…

 

Veterinary Caring Of A Cute Cat“It’s like a nurse, for animals.” I said, as my excitement from attending a meeting on the future of veterinary nursing/technology around the globe was immediately siphoned away. Usually, the next line in this conversation is “Oh, I’d love to work with animals all day.” Instead my driver asked “Why do they call it ‘technician’? That made me think you worked with machines or something.”

 

With that question, we delved into the history of veterinary technology, the existence of varying credentialing standards and titles, and a widespread absence of recognition for our profession. Yes, I went there with an Uber driver.

 

Interestingly enough, this happened on the day the National Association for Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) stated their intent to establish a unified title as a “veterinary nurse” and national standards for credentialing.

 

A unified title and standardized credentialing requirements will make it vastly easierVet Checkup for people to understand our role. The term “veterinary nurse” will invoke immediate understanding of the type of work performed and bring respect and recognition as “nurse” is associated with a well-respected profession in human medicine. Even veterinary technicians do not fully understand how the current, non-standardized credentialing systems work across states without doing research. Can we blame the public for not understanding either?

 

When NAVTA announced their goal, I heard the veterinary technician profession cheer as a decades-long dream had a chance of coming true, and the recognition deserved was visible on the horizon.

 

[tweetthis]”Why do they call it ‘technician’? That made me think you worked with machines.”[/tweetthis]

 

Yet, attaining such a goal is anything but trivial. We may try… and we may fail. “Nurses won’t let us call ourselves nurses.” and “I don’t want to be called a nurse. I do so much more.” are two commonly given counterarguments.

 

No, registered nurses (RNs) probably do not want veterinary technicians to share this title. They are rightfully interested in protecting the public against unethical, unscrupulous, and incompetent practitioners of human nursing, and thus boards of nursing have incorporated “title protection” into the nursing practice act in 39 states. Veterinary nurses will not, of course, practice human nursing.

 

There may also be an impression with RNs that veterinary technicians practice pseudo-nursing that does not meet their nursing standards. We know what we practice is anything but pseudo-nursing, as we care for patients on a critical care ventilator, finely balance a patient through a rocky ASA 5 anesthetic event, develop a relationship with a patient and owner through years of chronic disease treatment, or put our hand on one’s shoulder as they say goodbye to their beloved family member.

 

Male vet taking xray of large dogYes, veterinary technicians have a broader scope of practice including radiography, dentistry, anesthesia, and other tasks that RNs do not perform due to regulatory reasons. However, veterinary technicians should realize that RNs are also highly educated and passionate individuals that provide advanced care, having specialized certifications (e.g. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who perform anesthesia), which is possibly the future path for veterinary technology. Most importantly, we all have the same compassion for our patients.

 

Arguing where these professions are different is just as harmful as the current lack of recognition for veterinary paraprofessionals. However, our shared experiences represent opportunities for better understanding on both sides regarding what registered nurses and credentialed veterinary technicians do.

 

A colleague who has seen both worlds as a BSN and RVT told me “’Technology’ encompasses the science and technology behind what we do, and the art of using them to care for a patient and their family is ‘nursing’,” and I truly believe this. “Veterinary nursing” is much the same as human nursing in this regard, and as our role has evolved so should our professional title.

 

Regardless of our position and what our title ends up being, there are several points here that are undeniable. Veterinary technicians perform far more now than ever before. They have pride in the amount of work it has taken to get here, and anyone using the title should be required to have gone through the same degree of work. Veterinary technicians deserve recognition for the level of education, training, and art required in this profession.

 

The time is now. If you’re a veterinary technician, get involved and take action to gain the respect we all deserve.

 

Will you look back at your career years down the road wondering why our profession never received the respect it deserved, or will you step up to the challenge… and know that you advocated for our recognition? Join the collective voice towards a unified title and credentialing standards to further our profession and what we stand for.

 

So… “What do you do for a living?”

 

[tweetthis]We deserve recognition for the education, training, and art our profession requires[/tweetthis]

 

This blog post represents only the opinions of the author and interested individuals are encouraged to become members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and their local state veterinary technician associations to join the cause. NAVTA is currently drafting an official position statement and formulating a strategic plan to bring the profession wide goal to fruition, and should be contacted for any official statements.

 


Adobe staff-6Kenichiro Yagi, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM) is a veterinary technician from California, serving as the State Representative Committee Chairperson for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America and an advocate for the veterinary technician profession, He encourages everyone to practice professional responsibility in the pursuit of professional goals through organized medicine.

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

Why You Need to Thank a Vet Tech Today

October 13, 2015 by Andy Roark DVM MS

 

Veterinarians get a lot of credit for keeping pets healthy, but veterinary technicians are often the unsung heroes behind the scenes. If you haven’t hugged a vet tech recently (or respectfully shaken his or her hand) here are a few reasons you should get to it.

 

 

[tweetthis]Looking for another reason to give a #VetTech a high five today? [/tweetthis]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

A Veterinarian’s Guide to Infuriating Technicians

October 12, 2015 by Andy Roark DVM MS

Hey veterinarians, good news! Dr. Andy Roark presents a fool-proof guide to keeping your technicians irritated for the whole day! No need to thank us, just make sure you do number six frequently and with gusto!

 

 

[tweetthis]How to annoy the #VetTechs in your practice [/tweetthis]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

She’s Just A Vet Tech

September 27, 2015 by Dr. Andy Roark Community

JUST a Vet Tech greeted you at the door with a smiling face, even though we’ve been running around for 11 hours straight. Your pet was assessed by JUST a Vet Tech and, when we noticed he wasn’t stable, JUST a Vet Tech carried your 70 plus pound dog to the back and screamed for a doctor.

Once the doctor assessed your pet, JUST a Vet Tech placed the IV catheter and started to bolus fluids. JUST a Vet Tech got a blood pressure on your pet today and administered medications because his blood pressure was low. JUST a Vet Tech drew blood and ensured it got run as quickly as possible. JUST a Vet Tech wrestled your dog to get x-rays today, with the help of an assistant.

When we found that your pet needed surgery, JUST a Vet Tech made certain he was stable throughout the procedure. When your pet left the surgery suite, JUST a Vet Tech sat with him to make sure he recovered with no problems.

JUST a Vet Tech got vitals on your pet every couple of hours today and reported all issues to the doctor on duty. JUST a Vet Tech noticed your pet was painful and asked the doctor to administer more pain medications. JUST a Vet Tech sat with your pet today and gave him love while you were at work. JUST a Vet Tech told your pet that he wasn’t there forever, only until he got better. JUST a Vet Tech promised your pet you’d be back for him.

Just a Vet Tech took your dog outside for a walk today. When we realized he was cramped up in that cage and his legs were stiff, JUST a Vet Tech walked your pet around the building at his pace to ensure he got proper exercise. Your pet got a lot of fluids today and couldn’t control his bladder. He’s still so weak. JUST a Vet Tech checked and changed his bedding so he didn’t have to lay in his urine. JUST a Vet Tech administered all your pets medications today.

Your pet was scared (this is a new place with new people), and he was fearfully trying to bite me. JUST a Vet Tech took the time and did everything possible to show him that we weren’t going to hurt him. He accidentally wiped his stool on me when he sat in my lap today. It happens after surgery. But, that’s okay, he didn’t mean it. JUST a Vet Tech cleaned him up nice for you.

I’m so sorry to tell you, your pet had a rough night last night. He took a turn for the worse. You’re letting your pet go today. JUST a Vet Tech understands how hurt you are, and brought you tissues. You were too upset to see your dog leave the world today. JUST a Vet Tech hugged and loved him as he crossed the bridge today. JUST a Vet Tech went home emotionally drained because all the hard work didn’t pay off today. JUST a Vet Tech will do it again tomorrow.

Remember this the next time you call someone JUST a Vet Tech. We are JUST an important part of your pet’s care. And we care about your pet.
Sincerely,
JUST a Vet Tech

Britney Greene works full-time at a Pet Emergency Hospital in Maryland, and she absolutely enjoys her job. In her spare time, Britney has two children and is pursuing her Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Vet Tech Life

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