Celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week with us

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week from dvm360.com!

If you're wondering how long we plan to particularly celebrate the work of veterinary technicians, here's your answer (courtesy of Lionel Richie): All night week long!

And as a thank you, we're serving up free team training, appreciation and inspiration. We thank Banfield for their support of our Tech Week coverage this year and their ongoing initiatives to empower the veterinary technicians across the country. 

First things first ...

We all know that National Veterinary Technician Week (happening right now, Oct. 13-19) celebrates the contributions of all veterinary technicians. Because every person brings something different to the table, however, it's important to celebrate each team member's unique contribution.

Every clinic has a few technician rock stars who excel at patient and client care. In honor of National Veterinary Technician Week, here are 10 technicians who are killing the career game and inspiring the next wave of vet tech heroes.

We also acknowledge that many qualified veterinary team members are struggling with their place in the profession. It's been about three years since the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) published survey results that sparked the important conversation about the tremendous shortage of veterinary nurses in our country. What has changed since then, and what can we do to buck the trend of losing skilled nurses in veterinary medicine? We dig into that question.

If nothing else, veterinary practices around the country can do many things to better utilize the rockstar technicians that help pets get the valuable veterinary care they need. If your clinic isn't doing these things (yet), here are valuable tips to change that. 

Now, on to the good stuff! 

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Print: 'You're one heck of a tech!'

Let the technicians in your veterinary practice know that their daily bum-busting and all-around awesomeness are not going unnoticed with these printable notes. (We like to think of them as verbal high fives.)

Docs who get it

Not surprisingly, some of our favorite DVMs are the biggest champions of techs (we knew they were smart). Click on the images below to hear more in their own words about why they love their technicians and how they empower them to use their skills.

And a practice manager who gets it too

Client communication translator 1.0

This nifty translator takes what you say to clients and translates it back into the words behind what you say to every pet owner. See more translations here.

The Veterinary Nurse Initiative

We've compiled some of dvm360's coverage of the initiative to help keep track of what's happened since it was announced at the beginning of National Veterinary Technician Week back in 2015, and we'll keep updating the list as more news, opinions and issues arise.

Whom should I ask? A dvm360 flowchart

Is your question best posed to a veterinarian or a technician? Here's a handy flowchart to find out.

How to: Up your anesthesia game as a veterinary technician

An original Veterinary Anesthesia Nerd says 'that's just the way we've always done it' is a bad basis for anesthetic protocols. Watch the video below, and then learn more here.

Free poster: Recognize your veterinary nurses

Do your clients know how hard your veterinary nurses are working to protect and preserve the health of their pets? Here's how to boost your nurses' cred in your hospital. Get your own copy and post it in your practice today. 

The anatomy of a veterinary nurse

What are veterinary nurses made out of? Sugar and spice and handling lice, and snips and snails, and puppy dog's tails-plus more awesome medical knowledge and insanely compassionate care than the normal human being is capable of. Check out our diagram here. 

Man on the street: What IS a tech?

Ken Yagi, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), hits the pavement at CVC in Kansas City to find out what pet owners really think when they hear the words "veterinary technician" and "veterinary nurse."

(Mini) Team Meeting in a Box: Mental health matters

Odds are, someone on your team is either experiencing psychological distress now or will in the future. Practice some self-care today. This Team Meeting in a Box provides all the tools you need to start a conversation about the importance of mental health in your veterinary practice.

Veterinary technician pay

Is your pay stepping up or down? Find salary data from the 2016 Firstline Career Path Study here. 

Back Office Blunders, Episode 7: Go do your doctor stuff

Veterinary technicians can perform many high level tasks in the hospital. If they're allowed to.

Tech vs. nurse: National credential initiative cheat sheet

Here's a quick breakdown of what it is-and what it means for technicians and the profession. 

A message from your furry friends

More great inspiration ...

Consider this short story about technician compensation. How can we rewrite the narrative for a happier ending? 

Love letters from leaders in the veterinary profession 

Need a pick-me-up? Read what veterinary professionals love about technicians

Texts from your veterinary clinic cat

CC, your veterinary clinic cat, is out of food-and out for blood. Read all of the texts here: