As we celebrate Veterinary Technician Week I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the past 18 years of my career at Mineral Wells Animal Clinic in Paris. I was the first licensed veterinary technician to come and stay at MWAC. I had the privilege of getting my education at Murray State, however Mineral Wells Animal Clinic is where I got my real world experience during an internship.
Assistants like Laurie Lemke helped me to gain my confidence and allowed me to hone my skills in phlebotomy, radiology and anesthesiology. I learned by listening to veterinarians such as Dr. Lyons and Dr. Sam how to speak to clients about disease process and the art of veterinary medicine. I built relationships with clients by being honest and following through.
I have loved every aspect of my career and have several patients that have left me with vivid memories. Those cases range from my first disc surgery case I assisted with from start to finish and watching a non-ambulatory dachshund (Tillie) have surgery and begin to walk again. To a black lab (Jessie) with cancer that the owners trusted and allowed us to be her care team during her cancer treatments. I will never forget looking at her first urinalysis slides and seeing the cells no vet wants to tell an owner about.
Veterinary technicians and assistants play a vital role in every clinic across the world. They are educated, on the job trained, licensed, hard working, often hard headed, radiologists, anesthesiologists, phlebotomists , grief counselor, surgical assistant, dental hygienist, laboratory technician, educator and the list could go on.
It is exciting to see the interns we have that are coming out of programs right in our backyard like UT Martin and Murray State University. They are excited and nervous but have the spark and the love to truly enjoy this career choice for the long haul.
If you see a tech or assistant this week let them know you appreciate them. Ask them questions about what they do because we would love to share our love with you. So Happy Technician Week to all the veterinary techs out there and to all that are yet to come! We will be excited to have you join our club.
Photo: Hannah Hutson preforms a jugular blood draw on a patient for routine bloodwork, Nicole Bunn is restraining and Tori Fletcher is backup to help distract the patient. (Mineral Wells Clinic photo).
