| Welcome to The Outside Course! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features! |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Any vet techs here?; Wondering what your job is like | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 19 2009, 05:43 AM (656 Views) | |
| Buryinghill1 | Mar 19 2009, 06:29 PM Post #16 |
|
You're BANNED!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
http://www.vspn.org/ |
![]() |
|
| Brydelle Farm | Mar 19 2009, 09:18 PM Post #17 |
|
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4817004n and http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/20/eveningnews/main4816818.shtml Here are articles on how it is high on the list of recession proof jobs, which is a plus. There are about 8-10 jobs per graduating vet tech to be had. As many have said, there are those jobs that are not desirable, poor pay, under utilization, lack of benefit, etc... but that happens in any field. I am an LVT, having worked in research, small animal general practice, and most recently (last 8 yrs) in specialty medicine. I LOVE it, now working in a cardiology only practice and working only 3 days a week. I have been a speaker the last two years at ACVIM, there are now specialties for technicians, opportunities to teach, there are so many ways you can take this skill set. It is hard work but I like hard work and thrive on being extremely busy, I hate it when it is slow. Being a self starter and confident are KEY, and you will work with MORE people than animals in the veterinary profession. Almost no animal comes in our door with just one human, it is usually >2 people per pet, so that means talking/educating/consoling an adult, a grandparent, and a 7 yr old all at the same time, it give you excellent communication skills. As you can see from the other post, this job is not for everyone, but again, NO job is. It is up to each person to make the most out of your job, I take it to the next level each chance I get and I have continued to break through the ceiling even when my bosses didn't think it was possible, though they can't deny what I bring to the table. Good luck in your hunt to a new profession!! Here is anther website for you, www.navta.net Edited by Brydelle Farm, Mar 19 2009, 09:21 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| FlashGordon | Mar 20 2009, 03:24 PM Post #18 |
|
You're BANNED!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
A little late to the party, but thought I'd chime in. I worked at a small animal clinic while I was in college, as a vet assistant. They called me last summer and asked me to pick up 15 hours a week for a girl on maternity leave, so I went back. I was doing mostly invoicing and reception but in the last few months I've been doing mostly post-op care. I LOVE it. Like, really love it. I do work for an awesome vet, and it is a small practice which is nice. However.... when I was in college, I had thought about switching to another school to pursue a vet tech degree.... and in many ways I am glad I did not do that. As Kady said, techs do not make much more than assistants. And really, the only difference between a tech and an assistant is that the tech can draw blood and give vaccines, and do some basic lab work. For me, the job is a little extra $ (pays my horse bills) and its more of a hobby than anything. I'm not sure I'd enjoy it so much if it were my life. Good luck, whatever you decide! |
![]() |
|
| Sing Mia Song | Mar 22 2009, 08:27 AM Post #19 |
|
I'm from the Government and I'm here to help.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Been an RVT since 1997, and it's the best move I ever made. (Quick aside: Brydelle is an LVT, because she's in Virginia. I'm an RVT because I'm in Maryland. There are different titles depending on the state you become licensed in, i.e., in Tennessee the title is Animal Health Technician). I had a bachelors in journalism and worked in that field for about five years before going back to school. About six months before I started school, I worked in a small animal clinic to be sure it was right for me. I loved tech school. I left the general practice just before graduation and went to an emergency practice: better pay, sucky hours, learned way more in a month than I'd ever learned in my small animal practice. It was there that the book learning and the hands-on experience combined. I left the ER after three years for a specialty surgery practice. I worked like a dog, didn't enjoy it nearly as much, but made more money and, again, learned a lot. Left there (another three years) to go back to the old ER practice for another 3 years. I earned about $10/hour at the ER the first go 'round (late 90s, practice about 25 miles from Washington DC), made $13 at the specialty practice (early 2000s, just outside Baltimore), $15 when I went back to the ER, and wound up managing that practice for a bit (base salary of $25k/year, but earned enough of a percentage that I was on track to earn ~$60k. However, the practice soon went bankrupt because the owner really should NOT have been paying me that much! Should have been giving me a percentage of net, not gross proceeds.). After I left the ER, I freelanced for a bit and charged $20/hour. However, this was five years ago, when the economy was still good. I got an opportunity to go to work for the government and doubled my salary within a couple years. I still pick up relief work here and there to make sure I maintain my skills. It's hard, but mostly satisfying work. I left every day feeling like I had made a difference. That said, I knew it wasn't something that was going to generate a lot of income or a retirement portfolio, which is why I went to the government. I use both degrees (I handle public relations for the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine), so I am still grateful that I took that leap. But the economy is hitting vet med hard. The practice where I work alternate Saturdays is down in gross proceeds by a third. We have just as many appointment and just as much work, but now most of the 20 minute appointment is spent negotiating with the clients over what diagnostics they can afford. I don't know of any practice that does payment plans, and it can be very hard when animals wind up getting euthanized for financial reasons. Very sad, but we did payment plans for a short time at the ER, and our accounts receivable shot to $20k within four months. I spent a LOT of time on collections and small claims court. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() Our users say it best: "Zetaboards is the best forum service I have ever used." Learn More · Register Now |
|
| « Previous Topic · The Hay Loft · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2





![]](http://z1.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)




9:48 AM Jul 13