The Savvy VetTech

Most states use the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE^®) as an entry test for credentialing veterinary technicians. Before beginning your career as a vet tech, you will probably need to take (and pass!) this exam.

The next VTNE^® testing window is from November 15th - December 15th, 2019. If you want to take the test during that time, you will need to submit an application during the August 15th - October 15th registration window.

First, before you start studying, make sure you have planned when you’re going to take the exam. The answer for when you should start your studies depends on your test date. 

Did you know carnivores have four types of teeth with different functions.

Recently, I was talking to a veterinary friend of mine and mentioned how I am overdue for a haircut and a pedicure to which she replied, “sounds like you could really use some self-care!” I was so confused.

How could that be self-care? Wasn’t just the minimum to keep up? And my questions spiraled from there. Was self-care even well-defined? Was it more than just a buzzword? Why does it matter? And perhaps, most importantly, is it even possible in the veterinary industry?

It’s officially summer, which means that many pet owners are traveling with their pets. Unfortunately, pets don’t always share the same enthusiasm for travel as their human companions! Therefore, summer is often associated with an increase in phone calls and veterinary visits for medications to help make travel easier on pets and their owners. 

Have you noticed a change in the temperature this past month? If you’ve either spent any time outside or if you’ve watched the news lately, you’re probably aware that there have been many heat waves recently.

It’s summertime... and that means many families are spending more time outdoors with their pets. Unfortunately, this seemingly positive change can mean that you might be seeing more trauma cases than usual! Outdoor activities and travel expose pets to different risks than those they encounter during the lazy months of winter.

Whether it’s a cat presenting for a spider bite, a dog presenting after a fight at the dog park, or something completely different, clients often seek veterinary care for their pets’ wounds and vet techs play a fundamental role in that care.

Whether you’re preparing for your first job as a veterinary technician or beginning an internship as part of your vet tech training, big job changes are often accompanied by some anxiety. 

It’s normal to be nervous when starting a new job… especially when you’re transitioning to a new role within veterinary medicine! Fortunately, there are several things that you can do to calm your nerves and help your first day go smoothly.

Recently, there’s been a lot of discussion about the importance of awareness about bullying in veterinary medicine. There are many articles and resources on the detrimental effects of bullying and how to identify and overcome it.

It is not uncommon in our industry for veterinary technicians to consider transitioning into practice management roles. Not only do technicians have medical knowledge but they also handle a lot of the education, training and communication aspects of the day-to-day work in clinic.

Sometimes, technicians work on building the schedule, and doing the ordering and keeping track of inventory so they are familiar with aspects of running a veterinary business.  Based on this diverse skill set, transitioning into a veterinary practice management (PM) role may seem like a natural next step...but what are some questions to ask yourself before making the switch?

When you graduate from vet tech school, the most obvious option is to begin working in a local veterinary clinic. Regardless of whether you want to work with small animal or large animal patients, many vet techs envision themselves in general veterinary practice, providing a combination of wellness, medical, and surgical care.

What if general practice isn’t a good fit for you, though, and you’d like to do something different?

Have you heard of CrossFit^®? How about Orangetheory^®, Beachbody^®, aerial yoga  or Couch to 5K? While all of these workout programs are different, there is one major similarity: they can all improve mental health.

“So, you work in a vet clinic? That’s awesome… you basically just play with puppies and kitties all day, right?”

Ha! If only it were that easy...

Unfortunately, as you’ve probably already realized (or you’ll soon realize, if you haven’t yet spent time in a veterinary hospital!), there are aspects of the veterinary field that can be difficult to handle.

When I was working as a vet tech, I experienced a multitude of challenges. Maybe you have experienced some of these too. Between trying to make sure that all pets were cared for and that clients felt comfortable to making sure we all stayed safe and on schedule, I felt that getting through each day successfully was a real accomplishment.