So You Want to Be a Veterinary Technician
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Pet Column for the week of August 23, 1999
Office of Public Engagement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Sarah Probst
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
October 10 to 16, 1999, is National Veterinary Technician week.
If you are interested in animals, people, and medicine, being a veterinarian technician may
be a great career choice for you. "When I was a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian," says
Marie Pickens, veterinary technician in ophthalmology at the University of Illinois College of
Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Urbana. "But as I got older, I realized that I
didn't want to be in school that long (6 to 8 years total). When I heard about the 2-year vet
tech program, it seemed like the perfect career option-less schooling and the opportunity to
work with animals and people. I'm happy with what I chose to do," smiles Pickens.
A veterinary technician may have such responsibilities as performing physical examinations,
taking radiographs (X rays), conducting laboratory tests, inducing and monitoring
anesthesia, performing dental prophylaxis, assisting during surgery, and educating clients. In
Illinois, a certified veterinary technician has graduated from a two-year program accredited
by the American Veterinary Medical Association and has passed the national board
examination.
Pickens works with outpatients and surgery patients. "I help keep people organized and do
whatever needs to be done. I help students with exams, make sure the doctors know if the
appointments are getting backed up, do a lot of charges on exams-computer work. On
surgery days I set up for surgery and then clean up afterward, which sounds a lot simpler
than it is." Pickens has to know which instruments are needed for each surgery and make
sure that all is ready for each procedure.
Picken's favorite thing about her job is the people she works with. "I work with a couple of
great doctors. I've had the opportunity to handle a wide variety of species, so what I do is
varied." Pickens admits that one has to have a lot of patience to be a helper and facilitator
all the time. "Sometimes it's difficult to be in the position where you are not controlling
things, so before you decide to become a veterinary technician, know what you are getting
into."
Veterinary technician Ragenia Sarr has a very important role in large animal surgeries. Every
day she helps figure out how to get 1,500-pound animals onto a surgery table and keep
them anesthetized! "What we do is bring the horse into the prep area and then I help the
doctor give the sedative. The horses are anxious because everything is new and scary, so
they are really paying attention to every little thing we do," explains Sarr. "After the
sedative, we lead them into a surgery room and put them into the surgery gate and give
them the rest of their drugs."
After the horse is anesthetized, Sarr helps the veterinarian and senior veterinary students put
the horse onto the surgery table, attach anesthetic monitoring equipment, and make sure the
horse is in proper position. During the surgery, Sarr helps monitor the horse to ensure that
the blood pressure and respiration rate are properly maintained. It's also Sarr's job to make
sure that everything is cleaned up, sterilized, and ready for the next surgery.
When the large animal anesthesia veterinary technician position at the College came open,
Sarr didn't know if she wanted the responsibility and stress associated with anesthesia and
she worried that she didn't have enough large animal experience. But now she enjoys her
job, with only one exception. "My least favorite thing to do is clean up after the surgery,"
laughs Sarr.
Another veterinary technician at the College, Kristi Stasi, became a veterinary technician
because it gave her the opportunity to combine her love of animals and medicine in a
challenging career. "I look at it like it's a huge puzzle. Something comes in and you only get
a few pieces. As tests come back you hear more and more information until the problem is
solved. Veterinary technicians are a part of solving that puzzle."
Stasi stresses that you must expect to deal with people as a veterinary technician. "For
every animal that comes in, a family come in, so you really should like to work with people."
Sarr agrees, "We deal with clients a lot. Some people would rather ask us questions than
ask a veterinarian. Sometimes we explain a procedure or just let the client know that we
and the doctors are going to do everything we can to make sure their animal gets the best
care possible."
Veterinary technicians at the College work a lot with veterinary students. Kristi Stasi helps
teach third- and fourth-year veterinary students such things as urinary catheterization,
restraint techniques, and blood drawing.
Stasi has some advice for anyone considering a career in veterinary technology. "See if you
can volunteer at a veterinary practice. Being a veterinary technician isn't going to be the
highest paying job in the world, so it's important that you enjoy it. In addition, you have to
be flexible. Emergencies and other situations frequently interrupt the daily routine. You also
have to be able to accept the fact that, despite your best efforts, not all animals get better."
If you are interested in becoming a veterinary technician, there are two programs in Illinois.
Please contact Dr. Paul Cook at Parkland Collegein Champaign, 217/351-2382, or
Dr. Scott Keller at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, 815/280-2775.