Should I shadow?

[WannaBeVet]

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Hey everyone! It's been a while since I posted. 🙂 I'm finishing up my first semester of undergrad and winter break is almost here. Sooo I am once again trying to find shadowing/volunteering/work.

I have a possible opportunity available but the Vet says that I would be only able to shadow and probably not be able to do anything due to liability reasons. Is this opportunity still worth it since I won't be able to get any hands-on work (even restraint most likely).

I have an interview set up with this said Vet on Tuesday so I will get more info but I also plan on visiting a larger animal hospital that has multiple vets at the facility. This facility is known for allowing students to shadow. Would this be perhaps a better opportunity? I also plan on stopping by there on Tuesday right after my interview with the first vet.

Any advice?

Thank you! ( I know this topic is being beaten to death by everyone right now =P)

 

[BlacKAT33]

I would take the shadowing job at the vet even though you won't be able to handle the animals. However, i would only continue to shadow for as long as you get feedback in return. So after a month of shadowing, if you feel like you have seen all that you can (the diff types of machines that the vet has to offer and how they are used, the diff ways of handling an appointment/client...a picky, mean, rude client especially is interesting, and other things that can vary from place to place.) One great thing about shadowing is that shadowing surgeries is the same everywhere!! cuz its not like we can help out THAT much with that. If you feel like you have started to waste your time, i would gradually shift to less hours where maybe you only observe surgeries. This gives you a foot in the door later if he is ever hiring new vet techs 🙂

Shadowing at the bigger place with more hands on experience is also great. Def take that up if they accept you. I think you could handle both things at once if you keep in mind that the first one you may spend only a month doing. Who knows, if you love doing both things and you can handle it maybe you will stick with it.

My personal experience: i have shadowed at more than one place at the same time and it is great to see the diff personalities of the vets and the clients. The feline vet i started shadowing was very strict with NO touching of the animals in any kind. I think she thought i would leave after a month of just shadowing lol but i stayed and after 1.5 months she let me hold animals! Now i'm giving injections and doin the same things i do at my other clinic. Finally, she hired me last week!! so even tho im working full time elsewhere, she wants to pay me to help out on weekends/holidays 🙂 so, you never know... and it doesnt hurt to get to know more than one vet!

 

[GellaBella]

Soooo how was your first semester at Drew?

I hope you've had a good time...sometimes college can take a little getting used to and I know first semester can be a little boring/overwhelming/lonely but I hope that you've been able to jump right in.

What was your freshman seminar and who was it with?

Anyways, I'm still in NJ and so I know what you mean about the shadowing thing. Here in NJ you're not supposed to touch the animals unless you're actually hired by the vet hospital. I shadow down south in Oakhurst and it really has been a fantastic experience. I've been there for over a year now so I do occassionally get asked to help restrain (shh!) if a tech is busy or unavailable. Like BlacKatt33 said, observing can be good too and vet schools realize there are states where someone who is shadowing is not allowed to have hands on interaction with the animals. I've really learned a lot so I wouldn't discount shadowing at all.

So go for it!