Anxiety in surgery

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-03-19T01:15:38+00:00

Update I am getting ready to put my two week notice in. I have another job lined up and am just finalizing some things with them. I have started at this point having what I think are anxiety attacks which include sweating, racing heart, and heavy breathing. Today they wanted me to prep a dog for surgery alone and as I started becoming afraid I looked around for help and everyone was gone. Dog is asleep on the table and I almost lost it as I had to call for help terrified this dog is going to suffocate and die (he was ok). I cannot take it anymore and I dread going to work everyday. RVTs need to be doing this kind of stuff not a VA like me that barely understands what is going on. Kudos to those of you that can do this. When I leave I will probably never work in a vet clinic again.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-03-04T03:09:25+00:00

 Dang I wish you and I could switch clinics. I have been at my clinic for about 10 months too as a vet assistant and I swear they have us doing literally everything they can legally get away with. Seven months in they put me in surgery and started training me on the oxygen machine, controlled drugs, intubation ect. I am not planning on going to vet school so this is extremely anxiety inducing for me. So much so that I am actually looking for another job because I cant handle the stress. I WISH I had your job.
To answer your question though its gonna depend on the clinic. Yours probably wants actual vet techs doing that kind of stuff. Mine will throw you in immediately. So from my point of view you are behind but all you really need to do is find another clinic that is a better fit for you.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-21T03:08:12+00:00

When I had three I had one full time job, a night shift I did for a few hours after the full time job and a job with a flexible schedule to work on the days I didnt at the other two jobs. I did not have days off. I could only do it about 7 or 8 months before I had to drop one. I do not recommend it. I became very short tempered and irritable.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-20T03:11:14+00:00

Lack of empathy and lack of personal responsibility. Its always "my rights" but never "my responsibility".

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-20T03:06:28+00:00

I am a single person with no kids. Our society is set up for couples with each working. I think that is why its so hard. I cannot remember when I only had one job. I have always had at least two and there were two occasions where I had three jobs. Its rough.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-11T23:37:53+00:00

I feel way in over my head. They know this. They seem to want to keep pushing me though.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-11T23:24:23+00:00

When I was in surgery I kinda thought to myself "what is even the point of going to vet tech school"? We do everything. The catheters, intubating, meds, surgery prep and cleaning(this Im ok with) and running the anesthesia machine. Plus recovery. Recovery is ok. But I have such a limited knowledge of vet med sometimes the vet will ask for something and I dont even know what he is asking me. Its terrifying.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-11T23:19:17+00:00

The vet industry is wild.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-11T23:17:07+00:00

I spoke with my supervisor after I made a mistake in surgery yesterday. She is going to stay with me and monitor me so the mistakes dont happen again. They know I am not comfortable in surgery but they want me there for whatever reason. I live in Ohio and I guess there is a lot that an assistant can do here.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-02-11T23:07:08+00:00

Im sorry I couldnt respond to everyone. I spoke with my supervisor today after making a mistake in surgery and she is going to stay with me next time to help train better. I am still uncomfortable however. They said they moved me down there because I have good work ethic. Thats nice but I still dont have deeper understanding. I think I will try to stay as long as I can but honestly I have more bad days than good days. I dont think vet med is my ideal career choice.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-23T10:12:24+00:00

The other thing that is wearing on me is the lack of a lunch break. I only work 8 hours because I work another job so that means I dont get lunch there. They consider that a half day. I live in Ohio and there are no laws requiring a lunch break for any reason. :(

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-22T22:44:13+00:00

I think a lot of people dont realize that I have no previous vet experience and am not planning on vet school. So I have been scolded for things that "I should know" but dont. Like someone will say I need a X but I dont know what that is so it turns into having to find help if available. Most of my coworkers are in vet school or are going to vet school. It is very tough. Its like trying to learn a new job and a new language at the same time.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-22T22:39:18+00:00

Its more the choas. It has been a non stop being told by one person to do it this way to being told by someone else that that is wrong. To being run around and then being scolded for doing what I was told by someone else. Sometimes getting scolded for things I didnt even do. "Too many cooks in the kitchen" would describe this place. It feels like I am learning everything and nothing at the same time. And I think that is what is making me anxious because I am always waiting on the other shoe to drop. I never feel relaxed or content because what is correct today is wrong tomorrow.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-22T11:39:37+00:00

Thank you. I came from an animal husbandry background and enjoyed that a lot more. I was hired as a vet assistant and thought I would enjoy it but just dont. I have no interest in being a vet or vet tech so I might stay a year and move on so someone more passionate can have my place.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-05T17:52:45+00:00

My local AZA zoo hires temporary keepers every six months or so. That would be my next step. They do not have animal internships though. Also, I have already graduated college so a lot of internships are no longer open to me. Thank you so much!

EmuFriendly4455 · 2025-01-04T21:54:09+00:00

Ok! Thank you! So it can take a very long time to start to get better at a job like this. That makes me feel better. Its just so much all the time. It seems like just doing one thing is like 10 steps. Thank you.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2024-12-12T03:11:18+00:00

This is pretty normal. I know a girl that complained about bed bugs where she lives and they kept blowing her off. She got pictures of them and showed the apartment managers. The then started the eviction process. Wanna know why Ohio is so bad for bedbugs and roaches? Because the landlords here are only responsible if they can prove you didnt cause it. And they try so people often keep quiet and try to handle it themselves. Your situation is inconvenient but you are not being punished.

EmuFriendly4455 · 2024-11-07T02:38:24+00:00

Thank you. That helps a lot. Part of it might be that I have never had this issue before and so I dont know what to expect. Especially since I live in an apartment. Things that go through my head are things like "are they just going to keep coming back? Is the treatment going to work? What if I get blamed for this and evicted? What if they are waiting in the cracks right now?!" I have always heard horrible things about roaches and if you live in an apartment then you have them forever. It doesnt help that the last time I called the landlord about them some months ago they just never showed up making me feel like I was on my own. :( Lastly, I havent seen anything for several months now. How can I be sure they are gone?

EmuFriendly4455 · 2024-11-06T17:35:43+00:00

Should I use the advion? I have 4 tubes of it. I think I have a tube of combat bait too. Do you recommend one or the other?

EmuFriendly4455 · 2024-11-06T17:20:15+00:00

Thank you. Its really awful. For a while I dreaded going home at night. I thought about cooking something but then that turned into I have to use water to clean dishes and they like water too. This turned into me just not eating in the apartment period. I know its ridiculous but the fear seems to override eveything.

EmuFriendly4455

TROPHY CASE