VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Promoting wellbeing in veterinary technology programsOctober 6, 2022By Jennifer Serling, CVT, RVT, VTES While there are many studies relating to veterinarians and the mental health crisis they are experiencing, the same cannot be said for the veterinary support staff, particularly credentialed veterinary technicians. Many of the same characteristics that draw students to veterinary medicine are also the same characteristics that contribute to burnout and compassion fatigue. Appalachian State University has become the first veterinary technology program to employ a full-time wellbeing coordinator on their team. The sole purpose of this position is to provide support for the students and faculty, and also develop best practice models for other veterinary technology programs to follow.
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VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Purdue's successful approach to educating the entire vet med teamApril 28, 2022By Ashli Selke, RVT, CVTAccomplishments such as this contribute to the veterinary nursing field and how Purdue is excelling in the relationships created between DVM and nursing students. This, I believe, is critical to our profession’s future of understanding each other and our prospective roles.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveVet technicians need and want title protection; why so inconsistent?March 3, 2022By Ashli Selke, RVT, CVTTitle protection across our profession lacks continuity. The guidelines for this vary across the United States, which creates a huge misunderstanding from within the profession as well as consumers. How can anyone keep up when our title is protected in one state but not even recognized in another? The answer is, we can’t. So, we need to work together to bring the “big” issues to the forefront.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveProgress in reclaiming a profession in crisisDecember 30, 2021By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)NAVTA President, Ed Carlson, focuses on what is being done to advance the profession, as well as the groups working on potential solutions to some of these ongoing problems.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveAre we making headway or losing ground?October 28, 2021By By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)Veterinary technician underutilization, lack of job satisfaction, lack of professional respect, limited career advancement, low wages, and lack of employee benefits have been reported in multiple surveys for decades as the primary reasons individuals leave the field. I contend these are also reasons we do not have more individuals entering the profession.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk:Â A look at advanced degreesSeptember 2, 2021By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)I am a huge supporter of increasing credentialed veterinary technician wages, optimal utilization, credentialing requirements, title protection, and defined scope of practice in all states. However, my question is: Do all these issues need to be addressed in every state before creating a new role?
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveUnder-utilizing veterinary techniciansJuly 1, 2021By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)Under-utilizing credentialed/licensed veterinary technicians continues to be a hurdle many practices have yet to overcome. Here are areas for improvements.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Veterinary technician credentialing – a call for real changeApril 22, 2021By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)NAVTA president Ed Carlson believes a major contributing factor for technician dissatisfaction is related to the inconsistency in credentialing requirements, which may be a root cause of the shortage the profession is experiencing today.
VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTech Talk: Is there really a veterinary technician shortage? A profession in crisisFebruary 19, 2021By Ed Carlson, CVT, VTS (nutrition)Unfortunately, no statistics are provided for the number of veterinary assistants employed or other individuals working in a veterinary technician capacity. Given these numbers are of individuals self-reporting as veterinary technicians, it is doubtful it represents only credentialed veterinary technicians. So, does this make a difference?
