Smart Flow Blog

Technology: some people welcome it with open arms, and some fear the change that comes along with it. In veterinary medicine, technology has certainly made its mark on our daily lives, both in positive and negative ways. How is technology helping (and hurting) vet med?

Throughout my time in vet med, I've heard countless fellow technicians (and admittedly, the voice inside my own head) say that they don't know if this career is for them anymore. Most of us do the same things every day in practice. It's easy to get bored if you don't have the opportunity to test yourself or learn new skills.

Whether it's the desire to experience another avenue of veterinary medicine or go back to school and strive towards another career altogether, the thought of abandoning post has crossed many minds. And yet, most people continue on at their practices, caught in a vortex of wondering what else is out there and a looming sense of guilt for even allowing this option to be a consideration. 

It's a fabulous career choice, but it's not glamorous... Here are some reasons one should think twice before entering the messy world of vet med.

It really is quite simple to not be a jerk in veterinary medicine. Step number one, don't be a jerk. If you are not sure what not being a jerk looks like, just follow these next steps:

Getting the confidence and skill to hit the jugular vein can feel like climbing Mt. Everest. It can be incredibly intimidating and might leave you wondering if you will ever succeed at it. Sticking a needle into a patient's neck is as scary as it sounds. However, if you are equipped with the next pointers, you are sure to rock your next jugular blood draw. 

We all tend to have this glamorous idea of our veterinary careers. We are going to change the lives of every client, patient and stray animal that crosses our path to no end. Then our careers begin and we are bombarded with the not so glamorous part: the medical records, the inoperable tumors, the anal gland explosions, the long hours, the lack of sleep, the crazy clients, the gossiping, the knee pain, the headaches and the realization that you just don't have enough strength to do it all. As you get further into your career you will have to follow these tips on what NOT to do in the veterinary industry if you want to survive. 

I went to your pretty average, midwestern high school where FFA, show choir and wrestling ruled the roost. Milton, Wisconsin is pretty small (population 5,000), but very proud. The teachers were amazing, the students were typical and there were few true cliques since we all went to school from elementary and on. The problem was not with the high school itself, but the structure of nearly every high school across America. 

Veterinary practices rely a lot on team work. Everything in a clinic runs alot smoother, more efficiently, and quicker if everyone works together. It's key for the health of your patients, the happiness of your clients, and the well being of your staff.

Being a part of a team takes work. So, what can you do when your team is failing to communicate or cooperate? I read a great article the other day by Karyn Gavzer for dvm 360 on how to make your staff work as a team and have summarized the key points below.

Here are some ways that you can get your team back together :

Nothing matters more than the way we approach, care for, and treat our veterinary patients. In fact, they are the sole reason we are employed. It is our duty and responsibilty to see that each patient is comfortable, clean and receiving the best medical approach possible. We've previously mentioned how to improve patient care under anesthesia, but let's see how to improve patient care in the rest of your veterinary hospital.