A Day In The Life...
Learn what a "typical" day is like working in a veterinary career
Part of a continuing series.
See the archive for more Day in the Life stories.

This is the third viewer contribution in the "Day In The Life" series exploring veterinary careers. Previous contributions were from a small animal/exotics veterinary technician and an emergency technician. This month, we get to see what is involved in a typical day for a technician in a 24-hour emergency clinic.

Hi, my name is Angela Tucker and I am a veterinary technician at a 24 hr emergency hospital in Waldorf, Maryland. We have 53 veterinary hospitals/clinics whom refer to us, therefore we are extremely busy. I would say that 90% of our patients are very ill and are hospitalized right away.

I work 9pm to 9am Sunday-Wed. I love my job. No other job has given me the satisfaction and constant training that I need as being a veterinary technician. Being a veterinary technician is hard work and long hours, but I look forward to going to work each night. We not only treat small animals and exotics but we also see waterfowl and farm animals (if they can get them in the door) to pocket pets as well. I decided to be a veterinary technician after I had worked in a day practice as a receptionist/vet assistant for 3 1/2 yrs in Virginia, I wanted to do and learn more and that meant becoming a veterinary technician and changing to a Emergency practice. The pace at a emergency hospital is fast and you never know what is going to walk in the door next, not even to mention what critical cases you already have in the hospital that you have to constantly monitor, therefore triage is very important.

The duties of my typical day are:

• treatments-making sure I know what patients are in the hospital, what they are in for and what there treatments are for the night. Keeping the ICU sheets current for TPR's and medication if needed.
• laboratory-Urinalysis (dipstick and sediment), bloodwork (CBC, Pre-Chem and full Chem), Blood Glucose, PCV/TP, Electrolytes, Blood Gas
• surgical care-prepping surgical suite and patient, intubation of patient, monitor anesthesia, EKG and pulse oximeter, scrubbing in for sx, monitor patient after sx, pain management, sterilization of surgical packs.
  placing IV catheters, urinary catheters-place on IV fluids, monitor urine output in urine bag, calculate CRI (constant rate infusion) for additives to the IV fluids.
• Nursing care-keeping ICU sheet current, giving medications at indicated time, offering food and water to patients whom won't eat, monitor urination output for patients on IV fluids, constant TPR's, CRT, MM, pain management, monitor EKG for abnormalities, blood pressures, constant supervision overnight and the most important lots of love.
• paperwork-input treatments in the computer for your shift, fill out discharge instructions and fill Rx if needed, call backs and filing
• x-rays-take x-rays, develop and file
• answer phones
• end of shift hospital cleaning and stocking
  
  This might sound overwhelming for someone not in the veterinary field, but it is worth it and if you love animals and want to help them, you would love being a technician. I am so glad I decided to go into emergency medicine it is very exciting and keeps you on your toes at all times.
  
  Angela Tucker, Veterinary Technician

*ICU = Intensive Care Unit
*TPR = Temperature, pulse, respiration
*CBC = Complete Blood Count
*PCV/TP = Packed Cell Volume/Total Protein
*EKG = electrocardiogram
*CRT = Capillary Refill Time
*MM = Mucus Membranes

Thanks to Angela for sharing a day with us.

If you are a veterinarian, veterinary technician or student, please submit your story and share what YOUR day is like -- it not only helps those aspiring to be in a veterinary career, it serves to enlighten pet owners just what goes on behind-the-scenes at a typical (or not-so-typical?) vet clinic.

Additional Reading:
Long Distance Learning
Earn your Veterinary Technology degree on campus or via the web. An interview with Guy Hancock, DVM, MEd. the Program Director for the Veterinary Technology Distance Education Program at St. Petersburg Junior College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Veterinary Technician Links
For more information about a career in Veterinary Technology

Pre-Vet and Career Forum
Stop by for advice, support, or to just vent your school frustrations!

Veterinary Career Links
For information on becoming a veterinarian and veterinary careers in general

Thanks for visiting...until next time!

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