This month we are featuring veterinary technician Roxane Rocks, who is a certified veterinary technician.
Roxane is a very inspiring role model for those in the profession and we are excited to share her story this month!
VTP: When did you become a vet tech and how has your experience evolved into what it is today?
RR: I graduated from Bel-Rea Institute in Denver, CO in Sept 2001. I had not worked in a hospital before going to school. I became interested in veterinary medicine in the mid-late 1990's after researching how to take care of my diabetic Labrador. There were not a lot of resources available then, and the internet was still fairly new with AOL and dial up connections. After a while, I decided to change my career path (I was a floral designer at the time) and went to Bel Rea. Because I had not worked in a hospital before, I started in general practice to gain some experience. My first "real" job was with a DVM that had a special interest in surgery and was also very proactive with pain management. The more I learned about pain management and anesthesia, the more I could see that I wanted to specialize. When an opening in surgery became available at the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado in Denver, I jumped at the chance to apply and was offered a job. That was in April 2005 and I haven't looked back since. I currently work in the surgery dept at Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists in Loveland, CO. My boss is Dr. Tara Britt, who I met during my time at VRCC. She encourages her technicians to excel, and is very supportive of my pursuit to become a VTS in anesthesia.
VTP: What is the an interesting case you have seen in practice or something you have learned about being a vet tech?
RR: Working in a specialty practice, I get to see interesting cases all the time! Everything from crazy looking fractures to complicated abdominal surgeries to long and intensive wound management. It's always exciting when we see non-companion animals come through our door, and my personal favorite are the wolves. We do a lot of work with a wolf sanctuary, and the wolves are amazing looking animals. One thing I have learned about the different cases I see is that even if two cases are very similar in presentations, they can have vastly different outcomes. Every case needs to be looked at individually, and sometimes you need to tailor the treatment to the specific needs of the client as well as the patient.
VTP: How do you cope with job-related stress?
RR: Dealing with job related stress is a continually evolving process. As a surgery technician, I spend a good deal of time "on call" for emergencies, so even when I am not at the hospital I'm still thinking about work. For me, it's not so much what I do to relax, but more that I completely stop thinking about work all together. I have also learned that I have to do things that take care of me when I finish taking care of everyone else. That means getting deep tissue massage, occasionally acupuncture, taking multivitamins, making time to eat a real, balanced meal, and maybe take a nap once in a while. The best thing is turning off my phone, and going to a movie or reading a book that has nothing to do with veterinary medicine.
VTP: What pets to you have?
RR: Right now I have only one dog, Jackson. He is a 2 year old Border Collie I adopted in December 2014. Animal Control brought in a stray to another emergency clinic nearby with a gun shot wound to his rear leg, and wounds around his neck from either a undersized collar or being tied up. He was also very underweight. Our surgery team was at that clinic consulting on another dog with orthopedic issues. Jackson had no tags, no microchip and no owner coming forward to claim him. So, to save him from being euthanized, I decided to take him. We did daily bandage changes until the wound was clean, and then Dr. Britt did surgery to close his wound. We all worked to rehab his leg and make him trust people again. A year later he looks great and is very loving.
VTP: What is it about being a vet tech that makes you happy and feel valued?
RR: It's hard to pinpoint one favorite duty in my job. I love all the pharmacology and the continual learning process to provide the best anesthesia/analgesia possible. I suppose the best part of everything I do is when I can see a pet and owner reunited, especially if there was concern whether or not the pet would survive. I get the satisfaction of knowing that I helped keep that animal alive while it had the surgery he/she needed.
VTP: Any words of wisdom for those preparing to be a vet tech or are considering this as a future job?
RR:Veterinary Medicine is an ever-changing profession, with new and exciting techniques and procedures becoming available on a regular basis. Make it a point to never stop learning, and you will never become bored with your career.
Do you have a unique story or would you like to share your vet tech experiences?
