November Article

Dear Doctor: Last month, you gave information on training to become a Veterinary Technician. Can you tell me more about what a Technician does during each day?

Signed, Kate in Custer

Dear Kate:

A Veterinary Technician spends each day performing a variety of duties, similar to a nurse in the field of human medicine. Most of the people that consider a career as a Technician have a love of animals as the driving force. But any successful Technician will quickly tell you that it is important to be a skilled communicator with people, with compassion and a desire to help others.

The Veterinary Technician is essential to the smooth operation of any veterinary clinic. At our hospital, the Technician is responsible for assisting with appointments by escorting the client and patient from the reception area to the exam room. The patient's temperature, pulse rate and breathing rate are measured and recorded, and a brief medical history is taken. The technician will inform the veterinarian about the health of the patient, as well as the client's concerns. During the Doctor's exam, the technician will help to hold the dog or cat to minimize the stress for the patient (we offer treats or toys for the pets whenever possible!).

Our Technicians also have appointments of their own to give vaccine boosters, take blood samples for testing, or perform nail trims for the patients. They are also responsible for speaking with many clients on the telephone to address specific concerns or to monitor progress with a treatment plan. They are the liaison between the client and the Doctor on many occasions in an effort to address the client's concerns quickly.

Surgical technicians start the day by admitting each patient for their surgical procedure, reviewing paperwork with the client, and answering basic care questions. They set up the surgical area for the Doctor, and prepare the patient for surgery by placing an intravenous catheter and administering anesthetics. During the surgery, they assist the Doctor as needed, and monitor the patient's blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, among other parameters. They ensure that the patient is warm and comfortable during recovery, and prepare the invoice and surgical discharge instructions for the Doctor to review.

If we have a patient that is ill, the technicians will administer the medications or treatments that are outlined by the Doctor, and will observe and report changes in the pet's medical status to the Doctor in a timely manner. They will often relay medical status updates to a concerned client that has an ill patient in the clinic.

We require a fair amount of paperwork at our clinic - the Technician must maintain medical records for all treatments and testing, as well as document all telephone conversations. We have necessary legal paperwork for various procedures, which the technician must be able to explain and review with the clients.

Additional duties include taking x-rays, performing various laboratory tests on assorted samples (blood, urine, feces, etc.), and filling prescriptions for patients. One of our Technicians is also responsible for ordering pharmacy supplies, and another maintains the prescription pet food supply. A basic knowledge of nutrition, parasites, vaccines and animal behavior are essential to help educate clients in the best ways to care for their pets.

A Technician must also know how to remain calm in an emergency to be able to help the Doctor, the patient and to care for the worried pet owner. It is important to control emotions, since the Technician may have to attend to an anxious client with their ailing pet in one room, a new client learning about how to care for their new kitten in another room, and a euthanasia in another area, all present at the same time. And successful Technicians realize they must stay at the clinic until all client and patient concerns are addressed - it is not a classic "nine-to-five" job on most days!

As you can see, the Technician utilizes a variety of skills each day. In this column, I have only addressed the responsibilities of a small animal Technician - the day would vary some for a Technician that helps a large animal veterinarian to care for cattle, horses, poultry, etc. It is a career that offers a variety of opportunities, and the ability to help others to care for their pets in the best way possible. If you have additional questions, contact a local veterinary clinic to help you determine if this is a career for you.