Andy Roark

It is when you can get to know each other as people, and not just your job title. Many years ago, I remember working with a vet who was very good at her job, but it was a job for her. Although she knew how to do a dog spay in record time and she knew physiology, disease process and could do CRI calculations like no one’s business, she didn’t know her team. When you know your people, you will find you have more in common than you don’t.

The satellite clinic was attached to a large boarding facility, and on the Friday in question I found myself and my technician caught in a perfect storm of appointments, procedures, walk-ins, boarding pets that needed wellness updates, and the first local canine influenza outbreak. She looked at the pile of work we had and said she’d rather work through lunch to get out on time. When you’re swamped to the point that you feel constantly pressured to skip your lunch or breaks, you throw medications at patients because you don’t have time to work them up. If my original scenario at the satellite clinic presented itself these days, here’s what I’d do: I would politely send walk-ins to our main clinic, insist we take breaks, call the main clinic to ask for another technician to be sent over, and/or leave some of the wellness work on boarding pets to be done the next day (with a heads-up call to the next vet

I have had multiple massive moments in my life: graduations filled with excitement as well as anxiety about the future, tornados – two of them in two years – that ripped through my hometown affecting my friends and neighbors, my absolutely perfect wedding day, and of course the loss of dear family members. As veterinary professionals, we deal with clients experiencing massive moments on a daily basis. How do you respect the clients experiencing their own massive moments while also taking care of yourself? I will temporarily be selfish to take care of myself and my family so that I will be ready to help others endure their massive moments when I return.

Let’s look at some ways mentoring can boost morale and patient care at your practice: 1. Mentoring is especially useful in helping new technicians improve their self-confidence, and develop real-world skills such as advanced catheter placement and regional nerve blocks. Mentoring also fosters leadership skills that technicians can use to advance their careers when it comes time for them to consider leadership or management roles. If you have a team member that is looking to take on more responsibility, or has a particular area of interest that they want to grow, consider starting a mentor program in your practice.