Confused about shadowing a vet

[snafflebit]

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Hey all! I'm taking a break from rifling through threads to ask for some of your wisdom.

I just graduated high school and am planning on applying 3-4 years from now, so I have some time. I have this Summer available and I want to get started on those vet hours.

So I shadowed at a small animal clinic last week, but it wasn't a super pleasant experience. (I hope I don't ramble too much here, forgive me🙂 When I showed up they told me to stay with a woman who turned out to be a technician, so I stayed with her as she honestly typed at a computer for the better part of 2 hours. My first priority was not getting in the way so I did what I was told. I knew I was hardly learning much so eventually I found vets to shadow where surgeries and procedures take place and left the first woman. When I did, what a few of the vets told me was fascinating stuff, but I felt horribly out of place just roaming the clinic and observing.

My question is, is this just the definition of shadowing and I just need to get used to feeling out of place? Because I realize that's definitely a possibility. Or is it usually an arrangement where you follow one doctor and stick with then? I'm a horse person, and so far small animal clinics kind of baffle me as far as how shadowing is supposed to work. Thanks to anyone who can help a newbie out with a silly question like this 🙂

 

[EdinBelle]

Hey all! I'm taking a break from rifling through threads to ask for some of your wisdom.

I just graduated high school and am planning on applying 3-4 years from now, so I have some time. I have this Summer available and I want to get started on those vet hours.

So I shadowed at a small animal clinic last week, but it wasn't a super pleasant experience. (I hope I don't ramble too much here, forgive me🙂 When I showed up they told me to stay with a woman who turned out to be a technician, so I stayed with her as she honestly typed at a computer for the better part of 2 hours. My first priority was not getting in the way so I did what I was told. I knew I was hardly learning much so eventually I found vets to shadow where surgeries and procedures take place and left the first woman. When I did, what a few of the vets told me was fascinating stuff, but I felt horribly out of place just roaming the clinic and observing.

My question is, is this just the definition of shadowing and I just need to get used to feeling out of place? Because I realize that's definitely a possibility. Or is it usually an arrangement where you follow one doctor and stick with then? I'm a horse person, and so far small animal clinics kind of baffle me as far as how shadowing is supposed to work. Thanks to anyone who can help a newbie out with a silly question like this 🙂

I'm my experiences shadowing, it could range from many many different things. Particularly for me, I would tend to follow one doctor around. If that doctor wasn't doing too much, then another doctor from the practice would just grab me and ask if I wanted to hangout and follow him. I always made sure to dress in relatively professional attire when I went to make sure that I could go into exam rooms with doctors without looking "frumpy", but not such nice clothes that I couldn't move comfortably or help with whatever was asked of me (I actually started to help with restraining while I shadowed!)

I know it's frustrating, but stick with it. There are plenty of people who have been offered paid positions after shadowing! And if not, at least you get some vet hours to put onto your application. [as a side note, start an excel spreadsheet or notebook where you log your vet hours now, it'll make your life easier when you apply!]

I hope this helps, good luck.

 

[bunnity]

I've found the first day at most work or volunteering places to be a little awkward and tiring. But I almost always end up loving the job and my co-workers. I think you need to try it a few more times before you make any decisions on whether it's a good fit for you.

 

[that redhead]

I think it's pretty normal to feel out of place and awkward on the first few days of anything. And remember, you aren't a light fixture or a door knob - you can talk to the people around you. Obviously you don't want to interrupt anything, so I wouldn't ask in the exam room, but make a few mental notes as you observe and when there's a quiet moment, ask the doctor about it. Some people are naturally chatterboxes but some need you to be the one to reach out and ask before they're comfortable offering up information.

 

[tropictuco]

It is definitely awkward for a little while. I've gotten into a routine now where I just watch whoever is doing something that interests me. Could be a vet, could be a tech. My vets are super easy going and the only thing they said when I first started was that I couldn't go into exam rooms with them. So I stay away from that and basically do what I want within common sense. They might have "assigned" the tech to you just to make you feel more comfortable, not realizing she only had computer work to do. I would try asking whoever you are "assigned" to if it would be ok if you watched other activities. I would ask or wait to be invited to exam rooms or surgeries.

 

[catlady816]

I've never not felt awkward on the first day of working/shadowing/volunteering. Shadowing was even more awkward for me because not much is expected of you, other than just watching of course. One thing that I found that made it easier was asking questions about everything they did as they do it (obviously not while in rooms w/ clients). Having something to talk about made it go quicker and it shows that you have a real interest, which is good if you're looking for letters of recommendation later!

 

[hygebeorht]

I really hated working at the clinic I was volunteering at for weeks. I was working 12-hour days doing grunt work, no one knew me, and everyone was yelling at me about things I didn't know yet. I knew it would get better, and guess what - it did!

Hating it for a while is very normal. No one likes to feel useless, stupid, and bored. If you can learn to be a self-starter and the clinic is good for it, look around to see what needs done (wipe surfaces, mop floors, run laundry, stock supplies). If you make techs lives easy, they will hook you up and teach you things. Ask how they like it done the first time, and always be on the lookout for things you can do to help.

I filled so many damn flushes. Thousands. I became this crazy flush ninja. I could pop syringes out of their cases so fast, one in each hand simultaneously. Slam pop flick. Made me feel like a badass. 🙂

 

[dooleypuppy]

its always a lil awkward, but in my experience the more your willing to do grunt work at first the better. I worked three clinics (zoo, large, and small) and all three I started out feeling totally out of place. My best advice is: always be nice to the staff (techs, receptionists, etc) because they can show you a lot of cool stuff and if you do grunt work for them they will really like that and it can help you as you go on cause they'll show you cool stuff; Ask the doctors if you can room with them. Volunteer to help hold the animal (if your comfortable and someone shows you how) while she or he examines the pet. A huge part of being a vet is being able to interact with owners. So even if the diagnosis goes over your head you at least get to see how to interact with patients and clients (also doctors tend to explain a LOT more in rooms than they do in the back because the owners need to have everything explained. So its a life hack of learning kinda); Do not shy away from gross stuff or boring stuff. When I was at the zoo, everyone hated doing poop cleanup so I did it voluntarily and the zoo keepers were so appreciative I got to help with training some of the animals (giraffes, elephants, etc.) and the first thing I do when Im at my clincs is get the laundry started which the techs really appreciate and it sets me up for a good day.; Also, don't be afraid to be vocal! Ask whats going on and don't be ashamed if you have to ask more than once. and if you feel uncomfortable with something SAY SO cause I when I started in highschool I didn't and it was so awful ugh; And most important is always treat everyone with the same respect you would give to a doctor. I've seen shadowing kids who suck up to doctors and then are super disrespectful of the staff and they never last long.
I hope this helps!! 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

Hey all! I'm taking a break from rifling through threads to ask for some of your wisdom.

I just graduated high school and am planning on applying 3-4 years from now, so I have some time. I have this Summer available and I want to get started on those vet hours.

So I shadowed at a small animal clinic last week, but it wasn't a super pleasant experience. (I hope I don't ramble too much here, forgive me🙂 When I showed up they told me to stay with a woman who turned out to be a technician, so I stayed with her as she honestly typed at a computer for the better part of 2 hours. My first priority was not getting in the way so I did what I was told. I knew I was hardly learning much so eventually I found vets to shadow where surgeries and procedures take place and left the first woman. When I did, what a few of the vets told me was fascinating stuff, but I felt horribly out of place just roaming the clinic and observing.

My question is, is this just the definition of shadowing and I just need to get used to feeling out of place? Because I realize that's definitely a possibility. Or is it usually an arrangement where you follow one doctor and stick with then? I'm a horse person, and so far small animal clinics kind of baffle me as far as how shadowing is supposed to work. Thanks to anyone who can help a newbie out with a silly question like this 🙂

Everyone gave you good advice. I think I'd ask myself this: did they seem really pleasant even though it was awkward, or did the staff seem like they were avoiding me.

If it's the former, just give it more time like people suggested and don't be afraid to speak up and ask if you can observe this procedure, clean that kennel, whatever.

If it's the latter ... *shrug* Maybe give it another shot and if it doesn't improve look for somewhere else.

The shadowing experience can vary a lot from clinic to clinic, doctor to doctor, and day to day.

I had an experience like yours at an equine clinic. I arrived on my scheduled day, had to wait 30 minutes before a tech assistant finally came to get me from the waiting room. She gave me a tour, then said "I have some work to do" and headed off, leaving me standing in the middle of a large horse clinic knowing nobody and with nothing to do/watch. Totally awkward. So I just snagged the next doctor that walked by and said "Can I watch what you're doing?" He very pleasantly said yes, and I spent another couple of weeks shadowing there and had an excellent time.

So maybe you just need to push through the awkward phase. 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

Ask the doctors if you can room with them.

Wait... what?

Talk about awkward.......

 

[MarxistPreVet]

Wait... what?

Talk about awkward.......

 

[dooleypuppy]

haha i meant go into rooms. I get to used to the lingo i forget not everyone knows it! yeah dont ask a vet to live with you ask if you can go in with them when they talk to a client