home, farm, & garden by Sarah Southard, DVM
Celebrate our Veterinary Technicians
The third week of October every year has been designated as National Veterinary Technician Week by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (navta. net.) Many states, including North Carolina and Virginia, have also issued proclamations declaring the same. Veterinary technicians fill vital roles in all veterinary practices. Without quality technicians to depend on, veterinary clinics would never be able to provide the quality of care and service that we have come to expect. What exactly do veterinary technicians do? What does it take to become a veterinary technician? Why are they so important in the veterinary clinic and beyond?
And they provide immeasurable value in teaching and research settings, military service, food safety inspection roles, and animal control and humane society settings. While often used interchangeably, “veterinary assistant” and “veterinary technician” are not synonymous. Assistants and technicians each provide critical, but distinctly different, support to veterinarians and clinics as a whole. Veterinary assistants are trained on-the-job to assist veterinarians, technicians, and front office staff in many varied tasks throughout the veterinary hospital. Veterinary technicians are required to obtain initial training and education through an accredited 2- or 4-year college program which includes a minimum number of practicum hours. They must pass a credentialing exam and meet the requirements for their state’s licensing or registering veterinary medical board. Veterinary technicians are also required to complete a minimum number of continuing education requirements each year in order to maintain their registration or licensing with their state board. In many ways, technicians are unsung heroes in the veterinary clinic. Celebrate yours October 11–17 this year. Stop in with a hand-written card expressing your appreciation, deliver baked goods, snacks, lunch, or a bright bouquet of flowers to let them know how much you value their hard work, dedication, and genuine concern for your furry loved ones.
ANDERSON AUDIOLOGY Hearing Aid Sales & Service, Inc. Locally Owned and Operated Since 1963
Registered, licensed, or credentialed (terminology depends on the state) veterinary technicians perform many varied tasks in the veterinary hospital. They obtain patient case histories, perform basic exams and triage emergent patients, collect and analyze laboratory samples, prepare instruments and patients for surgical procedures, take radiographs, restrain animals, administer certain medications, fill prescriptions, educate owners regarding certain health problems, medications, and procedures, induce and monitor anesthesia, place intravenous catheters, perform dental prophylaxes, and administer physical therapy. Though long, varied, and impressive, this list is not all-inclusive. Technicians provide untold value to the clinic.
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276-236-0778 • anderson-audiolog y.com SURRY LIVING Oct. 2020 Issue • 15
