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Technician Utilization

David Liss, RVT, VTS (ECC), January 10, 2012

Writing an article on technician utilization isn’t easy; familiar frustrations begin to well up. Fighting for professional recognition within the veterinary community is tough enough, but technicians also have to respond to clients who ask, “Are you the vet?” or “Do you plan to become one someday?”

Veterinary Technician Skill-Building Tips

Exceptional Veterinary Team, January 15, 2012

Five Skill-Building Tips

1. Simple Cytology

Ear cytology samples, blood smear examinations, and platelet counts are all commonly performed procedures that involve simple setup. Interpretation does not comprise a diagnosis (the veterinarian’s domain) but is part of the fact-finding process in which veterinary technicians can participate. Follow these “tech tips” for producing quality slides.

When Techs Hurt Techs: Bullying and Horizontal Violence in Veterinary Medicine

David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), and Brandy Sprunger, CVT, RVT, April 2, 2012

Bullying and horizontal violence are workplace issues that manifest themselves among groups of people who work closely together.

From Pack Mentality to Teamwork: 5 Top Pitfalls for Managers and Employees

David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), May 30, 2012

Let’s talk about an “untold truth” about working in animal healthcare: employees often make a habit of voicing continual disapproval of a manager’s style and decisions, and in return managers tend to regard employees as a pack, forgetting they are individuals with hopes and aspirations.

Protocol-Driven Medicine

David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), July 30, 2012

As veterinary medicine advances into providing high-quality—and sometimes highly technical—healthcare for pets, it is prudent for hospitals to investigate implementing treatment protocols, also called treatment bundles, to speed up and standardize patient care, especially in an emergency setting.

So You Want to Be a Writer?

David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), September 15, 2012

Most of the writing in veterinary medicine is technical, which means you cannot use your own opinion if you haven’t conducted primary research or have authority to do so. This type of writing is intricate and requires a certain devotion to finer details: however, it is a great tool for professional development and more veterinary technicians should try their hands at it.

A New Veterinary Technician’s Survival Guide

David Liss, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), November 10, 2012

While working to train the world’s up-and-coming veterinary technology students, I realized that it has been a long time since I was in their place. For the seasoned technicians reading this, remember when you first started, either as an RVT or as an assistant training up? Although my students will receive associate’s degrees and have their credentials, school does not equate to experience; they will be competing against seasoned technicians and assistants for jobs in this tough economy.