INTERVIEW PROJECT

By Emily Thielke

When I first started schooling to be a Veterinary Technician I wasn’t aware just how much I would be dealing with people, instead of animals.

It became clear to me in my Intro class, and I worried that I wouldn’t be right for the job.

Having talked with many people in this field and have found out that the majority of my job will involve people, not animals.

EXAMPLES OF HUMAN INTERACTION IN THE VET TECH FIELD

Making Appointments

Dealing with upset clients.

Explaining the procedure that is going to be done to the owners pet.

Explaining any kind of product to an owner to help them better take care of their pet.

CON.

Helping people understand what the DVM is going to do.

Communicating with the staff so that treatments are done properly.

In general just giving the Client the right information they need to take the best care of their companion.

EUTHANASIA I think the hardest part about dealing

with humans will be when it comes to Euthanasia.

Euthanasia = good death

Death cannot be avoided, and the most humane way for an animal to go is through euthanasia.

CON. Euthanasia is a fairly simple procedure.

It is just an overdose of anesthetics. Which is why you sometimes hear it called ‘to be put down’ or ‘be put to sleep’.

Dealing with the decision to do it, and following through however is not so easy.

Anyone that has had to make the difficult decision will now just how hard it really is.

VET TECH RESPONSIBILITY It is the Vet Techs job to explain

everything to this person that is making the decision

Its hard to do. Not only because of all the side effects that can possibly happen, but also because the owner is starting a grieving process.

THINGS WE ARE NOT…

We are NOT counselors.

However, it is our job to help them through this process and it is VERY IMPORTANT for us to be able to recognize depression so we can get them help.

WHY VET TECHS NEED TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH DIVERSE PEOPLE.

There are a lot of different people in the world.

Not everyone will act the same way to the same diagnoses.

We need to know how to handleUpset PeopleSad PeopleAngry PeopleHappy PeopleAnd People everywhere in between

CON.

It is up to the entire Veterinary staff to make every single persons experience at the Vet clinic a good experience.

Because people are more likely to talk about bad situations then good ones.

SKILLS

They are all important to this job. Just like they are to MANY other jobs out there.

I think a Response to Conflict is most important.

WHY? People are more likely to talk when they

have had something bad happen to them at any particular place.

RestaurantsShopping MallsCar DealershipsVet ClinicsEx….

And more then likely not to take their business to that location.

So it is very important, whether or not you work in t a Veterinary Clinic or a Fast Food Restaurant, to always treat the customer with respect.

THINGS I’VE LEARNED Some Include

Respecting OthersThe Customer is ALWAYS rightCourteous Helpful/WillingPoliteUnderstanding Informative

But still being able to relate it in terms the client understands.

CONCLUSION There is certainly a lot more to learn

about communicating with others.

But I have no doubt that MSB will help me learn everything I need to know to be the best Veterinary Technician I can be.

I am looking forward to helping pets, AND their Owners.