RANT HERE thread

[_rae_]

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I promise that you as a second year do not actually know any better than the doctors who are teaching us who have been practicing longer than we’ve been alive.

Quit rolling your eyes and stfu. Plenty of people would be eager to be in your position and learning from these people.

 

[pp9]

I promise that you as a second year do not actually know any better than the doctors who are teaching us who have been practicing longer than we’ve been alive.

Quit rolling your eyes and stfu. Plenty of people would be eager to be in your position and learning from these people.

oof. every class has one (or several)

 

[fauna]

I promise that you as a second year do not actually know any better than the doctors who are teaching us who have been practicing longer than we’ve been alive.

Quit rolling your eyes and stfu. Plenty of people would be eager to be in your position and learning from these people.

oh my god. i am going INSANE with this type of behavior coming from people.

 

[pp9]

oh my god. i am going INSANE with this type of behavior coming from people.

It does cool off a bit with time as people realize they don't actually know how to be a doctor simply from being a vet tech or assistant for x amount of hours/years. When clinics come, you get more distance with the people that never drop the arrogance though...until you have a rotation with them.

 

[DVM882029]

It does cool off a bit with time as people realize they don't actually know how to be a doctor simply from being a vet tech or assistant for x amount of hours/years. When clinics come, you get more distance with the people that never drop the arrogance though...until you have a rotation with them.

Hardly any veterinary students were true veterinary technicians and thus know a significant amount less than the average credentialed technician at this stage in the DVM career.

/soapbox.

 

[soupshark]

I promise that you as a second year do not actually know any better than the doctors who are teaching us who have been practicing longer than we’ve been alive.

Quit rolling your eyes and stfu. Plenty of people would be eager to be in your position and learning from these people.

You know it's bad when you're first years on clinics and the 4th years pull up the composite and ask if you know this person in your class. Word spreads quick 😅

 

[pp9]

Hardly any veterinary students were true veterinary technicians and thus know a significant amount less than the average credentialed technician at this stage in the DVM career.

/soapbox.

Yeah mostly true, although in my tiny world I've known quite a lot of uncredentialed vet techs that worked as true techs for years (tech by training, but they were legit techs not just glorified assistants) and then went on to vet school. Working in FL, or whatever other states don't regulate techs, will get you there. Although I still fully support title protection!

 

[_rae_]

You know it's bad when you're first years on clinics and the 4th years pull up the composite and ask if you know this person in your class. Word spreads quick 😅

The third and fourth years are constantly like "you know your class has a reputation" and I'm like "yeah, I am aware"

 

[Tech_Penguin]

management said they’re ok with people chatting in between appointments but god forbid I check my phone (emails + work related) for a total of > 5 minutes during a 10 hour shift

 

[pp9]

management said they’re ok with people chatting in between appointments but god forbid I check my phone (emails + work related) for a total of > 5 minutes during a 10 hour shift

Yeah phones are always an issue imo, I always left mine in my bag when I was working to avoid the temptation. It's got nothing to do with what you're doing on the phone/how much time you spent doing it and all to do with how it looks and the impression it gives off. Chatting and having your face in your phone are two very different things.

 

[pp9]

OH also - I had my first noticeable 'pregnancy brain' moment yesterday. Was doing a routine exam on one of our snakes that had a kidney removed a few years prior (renal adenocarcinoma). As I was ultrasounding, I asked out loud 'So only the one kidney was removed, right?' and my tech (who knows I'm pregnant) said '...yes pp9. Only the one.' And I was like '....yep that's a good thing then.'

lol. ugh.

 

[JaynaAli]

Who needs kidneys.

 

[katiemcat]

OH also - I had my first noticeable 'pregnancy brain' moment yesterday. Was doing a routine exam on one of our snakes that had a kidney removed a few years prior (renal adenocarcinoma). As I was ultrasounding, I asked out loud 'So only the one kidney was removed, right?' and my tech (who knows I'm pregnant) said '...yes pp9. Only the one.' And I was like '....yep that's a good thing then.'

lol. ugh.

Studying for NAVLE with my shrunken little pregnancy brain has been interesting. I've found my long term retention is still great, but I will forget something I just looked up 5 minutes ago.

 

[soupshark]

The third and fourth years are constantly like "you know your class has a reputation" and I'm like "yeah, I am aware"

Mine too lol. What's with the classes of 2028???

 

[fauna]

Hardly any veterinary students were true veterinary technicians and thus know a significant amount less than the average credentialed technician at this stage in the DVM career.

/soapbox.

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK!!!
eta: we have a good amount of people who have really strong experience working as an actual tech. some are humble about it and use it as a way to help and guide others. some are actually arrogant about it and roll their eyes during clinical skills because they "already know better" and it really gets on my nerves.

in general, i have a lot of moments where i think to myself "what the hell did you think vet school would be?"

 

[fauna]

Who needs kidneys.

literally exactly what i said after my renal phys exam. **** EM.

 

[Tech_Penguin]

I always left mine in my bag when I was working to avoid the temptation.

unfortunately that’s not an option since our phones unlock the wireless door locks. And I also have it in case there’s a medical emergency with one of my parents.

What peeves me is that the time I spend not working is less than almost everyone else since I never take restroom breaks but no one notices that.

 

[pp9]

unfortunately that’s not an option since our phones unlock the wireless door locks. And I also have it in case there’s a medical emergency with one of my parents.

What peeves me is that the time I spend not working is less than almost everyone else since I never take restroom breaks but no one notices that.

oooh interesting security system. And you should definitely take restroom breaks....because taking them does not mean someone is 'working less'....

but yeah, like I said, looking at your phone gives off a very different impression than chatting with your coworker. That's just the fact of it. I know it's admissions season but just try to avoid the urge to check emails. If you are expecting something incredibly urgent that couldn't wait until a lunch break or end of day, I would just give your manager a heads up in the morning that you're expecting something

 

[JaynaAli]

Go check your phone in the bathroom.

 

[pp9]

Go check your phone in the bathroom.

I mean what could be better than getting paid to attend to your biological needs, while also checking your email? Some would say that is peak efficiency.

 

[_rae_]

I mean what could be better than getting paid to attend to your biological needs, while also checking your email? Some would say that is peak efficiency.

My clinic has a sign in the bathroom that says "this isn't an Internet cafe. **** and split."

I hate it.

 

[_rae_]

the time I spend not working is less than almost everyone else since I never take restroom breaks but no one notices that.

We have legal protections to be able to use the restroom at work.

 

[Tech_Penguin]

I’m too stressed to actually use the bathroom during work. It’s also bc I don’t eat breakfast or drink enough water. But that’s an interesting loophole 😂

 

[battie]

OH also - I had my first noticeable 'pregnancy brain' moment yesterday. Was doing a routine exam on one of our snakes that had a kidney removed a few years prior (renal adenocarcinoma). As I was ultrasounding, I asked out loud 'So only the one kidney was removed, right?' and my tech (who knows I'm pregnant) said '...yes pp9. Only the one.' And I was like '....yep that's a good thing then.'

lol. ugh.

Studying for NAVLE with my shrunken little pregnancy brain has been interesting. I've found my long term retention is still great, but I will forget something I just looked up 5 minutes ago.

The pregnancy brain either never goes away or Daughter-Neice made it permanent 🤣

 

[battie]

Everyone here knows I've had work drama. I resolved in July to leave. Lol, still here. I did working interviews and went through the rigamarole. Stayed because 1) my practice manager fixed my schedule; 2) I embraced the unrushed ER doc life and roll with 3-4hr wait times if I feel I need it for good medicine; and 3) all the contracts I got presented with were a 23-26% pay cut that I wasn't willing to take.

Fast forward to today: they have decided to close my hospital. I'm the last person standing as someone who was hired for this specific hospital. And it's the right thing to do. But I'm still so sad. Today is my last shift in this hospital unless I can get some switcharoos done to be here the last days.

Financially, it makes sense. I know what the numbers look like. Corporate ****ed up putting a hospital here, no doubt. ****ty location between hard to get to and being in a saturated area of town and being too expensive for the area.

I'm just really sad. Cause I helped open the hospital. I've spent so much time here learning how to manage hard cases on a budget and loving the people I have here.

Everyone gets to keep their jobs and go to the other two hospitals. Which is the most important thing to me. But I'll drive down the highway and always look at my building and be a little bit sad.

 

[pp9]

Everyone here knows I've had work drama. I resolved in July to leave. Lol, still here. I did working interviews and went through the rigamarole. Stayed because 1) my practice manager fixed my schedule; 2) I embraced the unrushed ER doc life and roll with 3-4hr wait times if I feel I need it for good medicine; and 3) all the contracts I got presented with were a 23-26% pay cut that I wasn't willing to take.

Fast forward to today: they have decided to close my hospital. I'm the last person standing as someone who was hired for this specific hospital. And it's the right thing to do. But I'm still so sad. Today is my last shift in this hospital unless I can get some switcharoos done to be here the last days.

Financially, it makes sense. I know what the numbers look like. Corporate ****ed up putting a hospital here, no doubt. ****ty location between hard to get to and being in a saturated area of town and being too expensive for the area.

I'm just really sad. Cause I helped open the hospital. I've spent so much time here learning how to manage hard cases on a budget and loving the people I have here.

Everyone gets to keep their jobs and go to the other two hospitals. Which is the most important thing to me. But I'll drive down the highway and always look at my building and be a little bit sad.

Ugh, sorry bats. I know you really had your heart and soul in that place.

 

[allygator13]

OH also - I had my first noticeable 'pregnancy brain' moment yesterday. Was doing a routine exam on one of our snakes that had a kidney removed a few years prior (renal adenocarcinoma). As I was ultrasounding, I asked out loud 'So only the one kidney was removed, right?' and my tech (who knows I'm pregnant) said '...yes pp9. Only the one.' And I was like '....yep that's a good thing then.'

lol. ugh.

It only gets worse from here, it just becomes "mom brain" haha

 

[honeypot999]

Well that was the worst spay experience possible. My partner clamped the uterine horn and not the pedicle, and we thought we lost a sponge.

I don’t want to do small animal surgery.

 

[apoptosis09]

Well that was the worst spay experience possible. My partner clamped the uterine horn and not the pedicle, and we thought we lost a sponge.

I don’t want to do small animal surgery.

Well, that's the point of doing them in school, right? Better now than when you're in practice 😅

 

[katiemcat]

Well that was the worst spay experience possible. My partner clamped the uterine horn and not the pedicle, and we thought we lost a sponge.

I don’t want to do small animal surgery.

Well while I was TAing surgery last year someone cut on the wrong side of a pedicle ligation….

It was your first time. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Surgery is really hard.

 

[finnickthedog]

The pregnancy brain either never goes away or Daughter-Neice made it permanent 🤣

This isn't what I want to hear bats.

 

[SkiOtter]

Go check your phone in the bathroom.

Exactly what I was going to suggest 😂

 

[pp9]

Well that was the worst spay experience possible. My partner clamped the uterine horn and not the pedicle, and we thought we lost a sponge.

Well while I was TAing surgery last year someone cut on the wrong side of a pedicle ligation….

It was your first time. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Surgery is really hard.

For real, surgery is a big thing. And you may find that you just hate it no matter what (me), or that you love it if/when you get more practice.

Someone in my class lacerated a spleen pretty severely during our spay lab and a clinician had to step in (idr if they were able to save the spleen or not). Stuff happens when it's your first time touching live organs. During my rotating internship on one of my surgery rotations, I scrubbed in on an explore that ended up being a gossypiboma. Stuff happens when you're out of school. And that's just in surgery, lol. Even more stuff happens outside of the OR. Yay for all of us picking a stressful career!

 

[Tech_Penguin]

What peeves me is that the time I spend not working is less than almost everyone else

Just realized that my (piece of work) coworker is probably the one who complained. Yet she uses her phone constantly (but kinda covertly) to order DoorDash and interrupt exams to ask doctors what they want, message people to get her things, and take photos of herself being dared to eat gross things (like fat pad from cat) or of patients. The double standard is so real

 

[vampyrica]

It’s also bc I don’t eat breakfast or drink enough water.

this isnt quirky or something to really heehee haha about.

 

[soupshark]

this isnt quirky or something to really heehee haha about.

Funny but true. Not a flex

 

[vampyrica]

Funny but true. Not a flex

you should be able to care for your body’s needs and practice a basic human function of going to the bathroom. serious health complications come from 1. not drinking water, and 2. not using the bathroom regularly. it’s not funny, quirky or a flex to “brag” and imply that you’re so busy at work that you cant take 5 minutes to step away to take a bathroom break…

 

[katiemcat]

this isnt quirky or something to really heehee haha about.

Fun fact: I took a mental health in vet med course over the summer and there was an entire section about how we don't drink enough water while working and this significantly increases our stress levels.

I made it a point to always carry my reusable with me to work/rotations and to take a good swig at least once and hour and it's really helped!

Edit in case anyone is curious:
"When you aren’t drinking enough water, production of the stress hormone cortisol increases"

Dehydration and Mental Health: What’s the Connection?

Dehydration can get you down. A psychologist explains how — and why improving your water intake can boost your mental health.

health.clevelandclinic.org

 

[DVM882029]

What peeves me is that the time I spend not working is less than almost everyone else since I never take restroom breaks but no one notices that.

I’m too stressed to actually use the bathroom during work. It’s also bc I don’t eat breakfast or drink enough water. But that’s an interesting loophole 😂

These are not good things, and show that you need to instill some boundaries both for your own health and to ensure the practice understands the needs of the staff. Martyring yourself is never the answer.

 

[battie]

I won a huge tote with a blanket, water bottle, and lunch box at ABVP in March. The water bottle is a whole ass liter and it is now my work water bottle. I drink two of them every day. My positivity is much better when I drink water.

 

[soupshark]

I won a huge tote with a blanket, water bottle, and lunch box at ABVP in March. The water bottle is a whole ass liter and it is now my work water bottle. I drink two of them every day. My positivity is much better when I drink water.

Love a big water bottle moment. Just got one for home bc I don't drink enough water when studying. So excited to be hydrated lol. Everyone makes fun of my 2 liter "dumbbell" of a water bottle that I take hiking but guess what! I can walk a lot farther than the rest of them. Curious 🤔

 

[pp9]

I've been carrying around a hydrojug 64oz 'keg' as I like to call it for a few years now. I don't always get through it every day during work hours (which is the goal), and it makes a show-stoppingly loud noise when I drop it, but it's helped me a lot and keeps me on track. When I don't get through it, I definitely notice that my mood, sleep, etc are affected. I keep it nearby during all procedures and bring it with me to our field stuff.

When I was in ER, I used to, sort of by accident/unintentionally, go the entire 12-15+ hour shift with one terrible junky meal courtesy of Uber Eats and a paltry amount of fluid intake. I'm talking a shockingly low volume for that length of time. The only 'exception' is if I ordered a diet coke, and of course that got sucked down instantly although it doesn't count as fluid intake in my book. I felt like **** 24/7 and could not bounce back from my shifts on my weekend. The literal definition of a work hangover. It was irresponsible of me to be seeing patients like that honestly, I'm really lucky nothing serious came of it. Now that I make a point to stay reasonably hydrated, I can actually feel my brain power decline when I get behind on my water. Truly idk how I was functioning on ER with probably 16oz of water or less every 24 hours, but it was stupid and I probably could have performed even better (and more importantly, felt better!) if I prioritized staying hydrated.

I know we often give you advice on here that you may not take seriously, but not going to the bathroom or eating/drinking enough is not a badge of honor and will absolutely be showing in your performance. Being hungry or dehydrated will absolutely lead you to make poor decisions, impact your ability to learn, and put yourself/others/patients at risk for harm.

Also, your management will never notice the fact that you are voluntarily doing this, it will never be 'Wow TechP, we notice you never drink or eat or use the bathroom, that's really impressive and proves you work harder.' Who cares that your coworker orders food or does whatever (except eating fat from a patient? That's concerning....). Focus on yourself, your role at the job, and learning as much as you can. And focus on taking care of yourself/building those good habits now. It gets harder once you have real-world/real-job responsibilities.

ETA: Also, not me chugging my water right at this moment because this conversation made me realize I was falling behind lol

 

[apoptosis09]

I won a huge tote with a blanket, water bottle, and lunch box at ABVP in March. The water bottle is a whole ass liter and it is now my work water bottle. I drink two of them every day. My positivity is much better when I drink water.

Love a big water bottle moment. Just got one for home bc I don't drink enough water when studying. So excited to be hydrated lol. Everyone makes fun of my 2 liter "dumbbell" of a water bottle that I take hiking but guess what! I can walk a lot farther than the rest of them. Curious 🤔

I also got a giant 64oz bottle for clinic work because I was 1) not drinking enough 2) kept losing the more portable ones and 3) didn't have enough room for stickers.
So far I've had it a year and haven't lost it (still leave it around but the stickers help it make its way back to me 💀) and actually manage to drink more water than caffeine most days.
Highly recommend all around 😂

 

[battie]

This gift tote give away was probably worth 150 and I was stoked about the tote more than anything. But the water bottle and lunch box are daily uses. The corporate still emails me once a month though 🤣

 

[vampyrica]

I've been carrying around a hydrojug 64oz 'keg' as I like to call it for a few years now. I don't always get through it every day during work hours (which is the goal), and it makes a show-stoppingly loud noise when I drop it, but it's helped me a lot and keeps me on track. When I don't get through it, I definitely notice that my mood, sleep, etc are affected. I keep it nearby during all procedures and bring it with me to our field stuff.

When I was in ER, I used to, sort of by accident/unintentionally, go the entire 12-15+ hour shift with one terrible junky meal courtesy of Uber Eats and a paltry amount of fluid intake. I'm talking a shockingly low volume for that length of time. The only 'exception' is if I ordered a diet coke, and of course that got sucked down instantly although it doesn't count as fluid intake in my book. I felt like **** 24/7 and could not bounce back from my shifts on my weekend. The literal definition of a work hangover. It was irresponsible of me to be seeing patients like that honestly, I'm really lucky nothing serious came of it. Now that I make a point to stay reasonably hydrated, I can actually feel my brain power decline when I get behind on my water. Truly idk how I was functioning on ER with probably 16oz of water or less every 24 hours, but it was stupid and I probably could have performed even better (and more importantly, felt better!) if I prioritized staying hydrated.

I know we often give you advice on here that you may not take seriously, but not going to the bathroom or eating/drinking enough is not a badge of honor and will absolutely be showing in your performance. Being hungry or dehydrated will absolutely lead you to make poor decisions, impact your ability to learn, and put yourself/others/patients at risk for harm.

Also, your management will never notice the fact that you are voluntarily doing this, it will never be 'Wow TechP, we notice you never drink or eat or use the bathroom, that's really impressive and proves you work harder.' Who cares that your coworker orders food or does whatever (except eating fat from a patient? That's concerning....). Focus on yourself, your role at the job, and learning as much as you can. And focus on taking care of yourself/building those good habits now. It gets harder once you have real-world/real-job responsibilities.

ETA: Also, not me chugging my water right at this moment because this conversation made me realize I was falling behind lol

i love you.

 

[apoptosis09]

I also got a giant 64oz bottle for clinic work because I was 1) not drinking enough 2) kept losing the more portable ones and 3) didn't have enough room for stickers.
So far I've had it a year and haven't lost it (still leave it around but the stickers help it make its way back to me 💀) and actually manage to drink more water than caffeine most days.
Highly recommend all around 😂

(Picture for evidence with overly identifying stickers scribbled out 😅)

Bottle cost: about $20
Stickers cost: afraid to count 😬

 

[pp9]

(Picture for evidence with overly identifying stickers scribbled out 😅)

Bottle cost: about $20
Stickers cost: afraid to count 😬
View attachment 411170

Ooooh I love the box turtle sticker! Or at least that's what I think it is

 

[Tech_Penguin]

you should be able to care for your body’s needs and practice a basic human function of going to the bathroom. serious health complications come from 1. not drinking water, and 2. not using the bathroom regularly. it’s not funny, quirky or a flex to “brag” and imply that you’re so busy at work that you cant take 5 minutes to step away to take a bathroom break…

I don’t eat breakfast because of my TMJ pain when I wake up and I get nauseous if I eat too early or too late. I’m not actually hungry throughout the day, and I do eat a balanced lunch.

I genuinely have not felt like using the bathroom there. 🤷

I drink water but not as much as I should, partly since I’m forgetful of that.

I couldn’t care less about what my other coworkers are doing since they don’t micromanage me. For example, telling me 20-25 minutes is too long to work on a sick appointment from SOAP to invoicing (with labs, rads, meds + authorizations) bc it should be > 20 minutes for sick exams or 10 for a wellness. And also inserting herself into cases she knows nothing about when the vet is discussing it 1:1 with me. Like telling us to cut corners (ignoring the primary complaint or turning them away) to stay on schedule. I’m starting to go crazy since if we listened to her last week to skip diagnostics, a dog would’ve died of a pyo. She’s not a vet tech or even a supervisor, so idk know where she gets the audacity.

 

[katiemcat]

I don’t eat breakfast because of my TMJ pain when I wake up and I get nauseous if I eat too early or too late. I’m not actually hungry throughout the day, and I do eat a balanced lunch.

I'm so sorry to here about your TMJ pain! I struggled with TMJ very much up until my first year of vet school it got so bad my jaw was locking constantly.

I saw an amazing doctor who custom made me a special night guard, RXed muscle relaxers, and worked with me on jaw exercises. Now I have basically normal function. If your pain is interfering with your ability to eat definitely see someone about it, don't suffer in silence.

 

[vampyrica]

I couldn’t care less about what my other coworkers are doing since they don’t micromanage me. For example, telling me 20-25 minutes is too long to work on a sick appointment from SOAP to invoicing (with labs, rads, meds + authorizations) bc it should be > 20 minutes for sick exams or 10 for a wellness. And also inserting herself into cases she knows nothing about when the vet is discussing it 1:1 with me. Like telling us to cut corners (ignoring the primary complaint or turning them away) to stay on schedule. I’m starting to go crazy since if we listened to her last week to skip diagnostics, a dog would’ve died of a pyo. She’s not a vet tech or even a supervisor, so idk know where she gets the audacity.

plenty of people fast in the morning, me included. i was more so pointing out the water and bathroom comments. it’s concerning.

it seems as though there is some deeper rooted concerns and issues with your workplace..and might be time for a change.