Which experience to pursue???

[DouglasVet]

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Hi SDN,

I have a unique opportunity through my current position at a veterinary hospital, which will remain unnammed. I have been working there for over a year and gave been presented with an opportunity to take a job within the hospital in one of two specialty departments:

1. Veterinary Clinical Neurology
-Which has been my interest for some time and will likely be what I pursue post veterinary school.

2. Veterinary Anesthesia
-Which is complicated and I will certainly need to know if ever I am to be a successful veterinarian.

Now there are a few other factors such as politics, etc, but I will leave the question as is for now.

I wanted to know if anyone has experience in either field prior to veterinary school and which may help more once in veterinary school? Any general advice by any non-veterinary students at SDN would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Minnerbelle]

Hands down, anesthesia.

 

[DouglasVet]

Hands down, anesthesia.

Reasons?

 

[Minnerbelle]

As a non veterinarian, what you do on the job in anesthesia will be extremely valuable later in your career assuming that you are working as an anesthesia tech. Like those are skills that are very beneficial to most clinical vets. Things that you don't get as much practice in as a student so the more you get to do before, the better. Neuro on the other hand not as much. You would get to know the neurologist which may help in the great long run. But if you're that far off from applying to residency, I think that's less of a priority as you have years to network

 

[DouglasVet]

Great response, thanks for the input!

 

[pp9]

Just to echo Minnerbelle-anesthesia monitoring skills have already been emphasized as extremely important to us first years. It is something our teaching hospital (I'm certain it applies to all schools, though) takes very seriously. It sounds like we might need to know anesthesia back and front before we can actually do surgery ourselves (which makes sense).

Also, is it possible you could meet up with the neurologist over breaks from school? Anesthesia will serve you better during your 4 years in school like Minnerbelle said, but maybe you can still get some neuro stuff in to help boost your CV or something.

 

[DouglasVet]

I think it would be possible for me to shadow the neurologist during breaks from school. Thanks for the reply

 

[variegata]

I agree with Minnerbelle. If you're an anesthesia tech, you'll likely get a lot of experience with IV catheter placement, intubation, monitoring, drugs, physiology, etc. Many of these hands-on skills aren't things you get much of in vet school (unless you actively seek out outside opportunities).