So I recently was approved for shadowing under a small animal vet. They requested a resume and interview outlining my previous veterinary experience. I have several hundred hours working as a technician at a mixed animal practice before I moved as well as veterinary technician classes. I specifically stated I would like more experience with radiology and surgery after being asked what my shadowing goals were. However, upon showing up the next day, the vet pulled me aside and told me he spoke with workmans comp and was told that I could not touch anything, literally anything. I can't draw up vaccines, take histories, or even do a nail trim. Basically I am not allowed to touch an animal, talk with clients (can't answer phones of introduce myself), and I am not allowed to observe any surgeries including dentals. That day was a 12 hour day of standing in the corner and nothing more.
Where I worked previously was through a family friend in a more rural area. Is this shadowing experience typical to practices in MA/RI? Personally it seems a bit extreme to literally not be able to touch a thing but didn't want to jump to conclusions as I do not know the rules/routines of practices in these states.
I live in MA. Before I was hired as a vet tech at the hospital where I currently work, I had shadowed for about 4 months. MA has strict liability laws concerning all medical health professions that excludes any and all volunteers from physical participation in any and all medical procedures. Since this is vet med, that also includes anything concerning the animals in any way, shape, or form (such as walking, feeding, etc). In MA, shadowing is exactly that, you are a shadow to the DVM. You observe and converse, but that's all. If you touch anything at all and an animal or employee is harmed even in the most remotely related manner, this state allows for liability claims and lawsuit for full compensation by the claimants. This means that if you even so much as hand the vet an already reconstituted vaccine in its syringe, and the animal has a reaction - you can also be named in a lawsuit and the DVM has to pay for your coverage. Some vet hospitals in MA have a consent release form - it releases the DVM/hospital from this liability because you are stating that you understand that you are not allowed to touch/participate and if you do then you are now accepting full responsibility for that liability.
That said - I had a bunch of hands-on experience during those 4 months as they learned that I was capable and trustworthy not to make a gross error. (Hence being hired later - but even in the beginning it was slow-going as I was allowed to do more and more) I also signed a document with a partial liability release - where negligence/disregard for instructions on my part would hold me liable, but I was allowed patient contact. So this will depend on the DVM/hospitals you work with.
It's state law and hundreds of applicants that are from MA successfully gain entrance into Vet Schools each year - a lot with only shadowing experience. From a personal point of view, as a paid technician, I was less able to ask all the questions and participate in all of the cases that I desired because I was busy with appointments. Don't count out shadowing in MA just because you feel "it seems a bit extreme to literally not be able to touch a thing" - even when I shadowed, I was so busy asking a million questions of the doctors and technicians, that I never felt I was completely outside of the daily proceedings. Something I WAS able to do when shadowing, was conduct patient intake prior to the doctor going in for an appointment. It involved no touching of anything, simply gathering patient history from the owners and presenting the cases to the doctors before they entered. That may be something, if you and the doctors are comfortable with it, that you can discuss being allowed to do! I learned a ton that way and one of the doctors really enjoyed hammering me with causation/problem solving when I presented! Just a suggestion!
Hope this helps give you a better perspective, at least in the state of MA!
