Veterinary Team Training

Mid-Level Practitioner & RVN: What’s The Answer?

I decided to jump into hot water and address two of the biggest topics for veterinary technicians here in the United States.

Should we be titled registered veterinary nurse?

Should we have a mid-level practitioner certification?

I've never once provided my thoughts on any social media platform until now. This was an uncomfortable podcast for me to create but I decided to be brave. This quote in my podcast summarizes my thoughts on both, "It became a dilutional effect to a very important mission." 

I looked at both of these topics from a project management standpoint looking at multiple factors. 

I think it's important for everyone to stay up to date on important initiatives within our profession. Keeping an open mind and sharing thoughts with kindness is a must. I look forward to any thoughts about these topics.

 

Should Those With No Money Own a Pet?

When I was younger I would say, "They shouldn't own a pet if they can't afford it." Decades later I no longer have that narrow opinion. I believe everyone (regardless of money) should own a pet, including the homeless. That said, it's a complicated topic. How do we help those who don't have the means to own a pet? Should we be helping? I jump into this topic with the statement I don't have all the answers, but wanted to challenge the view of "they shouldn't own a pet if they can't afford the best care." 

Annual Performance Reviews Suck

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEWS SUCK

 

The way most hospitals conduct their annual performance reviews is terrible. Once a year a manager sits down with an employee and vomits a slew of feedback at them. The employee is then expected to improve themselves without any guidance. Sometimes the employee's salary is adjusted without any rationale. A year later this horrible event is repeated. The manager can't figure out why there hasn't been any improvement.

 

For most hospitals, the way performance reviews are conducted NEEDS TO CHANGE. This podcast shares some ideas for change and ways to motivate rather than demotivate employees.

Your Shitty Behavior Isn’t ”Just Who You Are”

Everyone needs to be responsible for their own behavior. Claiming it's "just who you are" doesn't mean you have the right to belittle, berate, or bully others. Having high emotional intelligence is important for everyone. Let's talk about how to take responsibility for ourselves as well as how to manage those who are struggling to do so in our teams.

Advocating for the Veterinary Technician/Nurse Profession

The veterinary technician career has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Veterinary technicians/nurses are doing more procedures, caring for pets on a higher level and are direct contributors to the hospital's revenue.

And yet, salaries have largely gone unchanged. Hospitals and doctors still restrict the skills that veterinary technicians are trained to do. Roughly half of the general public is unaware that veterinary technicians/nurses perform medical procedures. Let's talk about advocating for the profession that my core and soul belongs to. 

Taking Care of Our Senior Pet Patients

Senior pets are special. Every moment with them is special. How can we help them when they come into our hospitals? Let's talk about ways we can provide the best care to our older pet patients. 

How the Hell Did I Get Here?!

How the hell did I get here?! I ask that question several times a week. I was told there was no market for a veterinary leadership book so I took a leap of faith and self published Oops, I Became a Manager two years ago today (09/12/2020).

Up until 2020 I mostly hid myself from the veterinary community, but once I published the book I had to put myself out there. It's been a fun, scary and crazy two years and I am humbled and in the debt of everyone who supported my little book with a unicorn on the cover.

I decided to sit back and reflect on "how the hell did I get here" in this podcast starting with my wrong choice of college major and now sitting with a book that keeps making the best seller list and recently won a gold medal in the Reader's Favorite Book Awards.

Pinch me. All I can do is say thank you. You are the reason I wrote the book and you are the reason a second book is coming soon.

No Need to be Silent About Quiet Quitting

What the heck is quiet quitting? Is it happening at your hospital? 

Is it a good thing or bad thing? There's two sides to every story so let's dive in to this catch phrase created by individuals on Tic Toc. 

Throwing More than Money at Overnight Shifts

Here's your shift differential now good luck on the overnight shift. After more than a decade of pulling overnight shifts I realized one thing. Money can't buy sleep or quality of life. What else can we do for our overnight team members? Let's dive into some ideas to help support the overnight team.

 

Thank you to everyone who filled out my online survey where I asked, "Besides money, what else can we do for our overnight staff?" You came up with some great ideas!

What is a Veterinary Technician Specialist?

Not sure what a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) is? Interested in obtaining your VTS credentials? Does it pay more? When and why should a vet tech/nurse think about getting their VTS credentials? Let's dive into VTS.