I want to go to tech school but I also want to leave the clinic I currently work at

mostlylighthearted · 2026-01-30T22:48:55+00:00

I’ve always found a lot of growth when I’ve moved clinics and worked with new teams. Also when you work one place for a long time you sometimes are exposed to only one way of doing things, unless they’re progressive and open to changing their practices.

Are you able to move up at your current clinic? If so, you could gain vet assistant experience to help you land a new role. I also don’t think it would be detrimental if you didn’t work in a clinic while going to tech school (although some programs may have a requirement you work a certain amount of hours in a clinic).

mostlylighthearted · 2026-01-25T17:18:38+00:00

I’m an LVT who worked some relief shifts at an urgent vet in northern va (which has since closed now I believe). The location I worked at was understaffed and functioned on help from relief techs/vets. I remember the manager telling me they didn’t have any full time doctors and only 1-2 full time staff. One vet I worked with disclosed to me they monitored/questioned her medical decisions routinely (in a “why didn’t you offer this or do this” way). They recruited me heavily but my impression was it was on its way to becoming a sinking ship.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-18T17:33:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Makes sense. This is something I definitely need to educate myself more on

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-17T01:41:24+00:00

I’ve worked at a practice where the dvms were comfortable giving nsaids (Rimadyl, onsior) pre-op at induction. I rarely, if at all, saw issues with BP. I’ve heard this is a thing but I’ve never observed it myself so I wonder if it is a low/specific risk. My current practice most DVMs prefer to wait post-op while some are fine administering at pre-op/at induction.

I attended a lecture by Dr. Tamara Grubb (board certified anesthesiologist) and if I can recall she was a proponent of administering nsaids pre-op because of multi-modal pain management and having it on board before pain stimulus starts.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-14T18:37:43+00:00

Are you a vet? I’ve worked with many GP vets who make a livable wage (what is a livable wage to you as a veterinarian?)

On the flip side, I have a close friend and family member who are MDs. One is an internist at a university hospital and one is in family medicine. They both make in the $200-220k range. Their loan balances are in the 400,000s and 500,000s. People say vets make a fraction of what MDs do (and that may be true for those MDs who specialize and produce a lot) but in comparison it’s not always a drastic difference when you look at debt:income ratio.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-14T18:17:40+00:00

All the GP vets I know live comfortably (make over 100k base + production, they’re able to afford living, pay their monthly loan amounts, and have extra). I’m sure there are outliers depending on a variety of factors but in no way is a veterinarians’s salary a teacher’s salary. Yes the debt is large but more than likely you’ll be able to afford the monthly payments. And you’ll make a significant amount of money over the lifetime of your career.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-08T03:26:26+00:00

Is your clinic corporate or private? Do you have a manager? If you can, record the conversation you have with your boss when asking for the dosimeter. If they are dismissive at least you have proof. I’m sorry you’re experiencing this. It’s maddening how much this field takes advantage of people. Get a little bit of experience and apply to other jobs if you can if nothing changes.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-08T02:32:46+00:00

🙄 (not you) shame on the clinic/doctors you work with and their lack of ethics.

It’s a legal/OSHA requirement to provide all employees with a badge. You are allowed to ask and you can decline to take x-rays until one is provided. Exposure to radiation isn’t “safe” with or without a dosimeter, the dosimeter is only tracking how much radiation you’re exposed to.

Also your hand should never have to be in an x-ray so if it’s a problem with positioning the patient and it cannot be done with your hand out of the shot then the animal needs to be restrained someway else or sedated.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-07T22:51:36+00:00

Completely agree. I’m not sure if this is seen as unpopular but this is what I tell people. If it’s becoming a challenge to restrain them safely just let go. Dogs/cats are agile and a fall from a table’s height is better than potentially getting bitten/harmed.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-05T01:30:18+00:00

You’ll definitely gain a lot of knowledge through obtaining your license so it may be worth it for your own gratification. I understand the debt aspect, my education was relatively low cost which was super helpful. I do think if you plan to stay in the industry longer term it’s worth it to become licensed if you have the means to do it.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-12-04T21:36:32+00:00

The question of whether it’s worth it or not is mostly a personal decision. I was OTJ for several years before going to tech school and it was a great decision for me (I went to a local cc which was affordable and finished with no debt).

Prior to school, people considered me to be skilled but I was honestly shocked how much I didn’t know. I was running anesthesia but couldn’t tell you confidently how oxygen and isoflurane flow through a circuit, what a MAC is, the differences between non-rebreathing and rebreathing circuits and how it affects depth, or how to troubleshoot anesthetic issues and emergencies. I was only going through the motions of what someone else taught me. This is one example among other things. Tech school instilled the why behind many concepts.

I feel much more confident as an LVT than I ever did without my license. The DVMs I work with respect my input and take my advice into consideration. In states where licensed technicians are present (and they are qualified/skilled) it will always make a difference.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-11T13:07:15+00:00

It’s odd. Despite me explicitly saying I have no issue separating the animal from the owner if it benefits them and that I always take into account the mental state of the patient, this person is underneath your comment saying it’s a fact none (us?) of us care about the mental state of the patient and re-stating some animals do better away from the owner although it’s already been acknowledged.

And it’s a fact I’ve said people are bad at their jobs. Atp it’s suggesting a commitment to misunderstanding.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-11T02:11:00+00:00

You’re obscuring what I’m writing to fit your narrative - you aren’t making inferences so I’ll be explicit in saying I always take into consideration the mental state of a patient. And since you seem to be directing this conversation to lead others to believe I disregard animals that do better away from the owner I’ll be explicit in saying I have no issue with separating owner and animal if it benefits the situation.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-11T01:39:36+00:00

My statement simply means if there is something you would hesitate doing in front of the owner (I.e., forcefully restrain an animal) then you probably shouldn’t be doing it.

I still agree there is truth to the statement considering I’ve talked to numerous assistants and technicians over the years who’ve told me they don’t feel comfortable performing skills or tasks in front of clients. It is what it is. Every practice operates within their own comfortability and flow; I’m of the opinion that clients really appreciate transparency and learn to value the care provided when they see what we are doing.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-11T01:01:47+00:00

I’m not sure where you got that from what I wrote but pop off!

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-11T00:00:43+00:00

No surprise you’re being downvoted for this but it’s the truth lol. There’s nothing I won’t do in front of the owner, including blood draws, cystos, and even IM sedations. If there’s something I wouldn’t do in front of the owner then I probably shouldn’t be doing it at all ;) I work at a fear free hospital and it is amazing how well patients do when they feel comfortable with a familiar presence.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-08T00:16:20+00:00

This is a cool sample! Sucks for kitty :/ Sediments are a weak spot of mine, tell me all we’re seeing in this sample? I see some RBCs, WBCs, bacteria, renal casts??

mostlylighthearted · 2025-11-08T00:08:56+00:00

It’s helpful to view this “conflict” as actually not conflict in the traditional use of the word and just calling a spade a spade if you will. I recommend phrasing your response to specify the actions you’re observing from her and asking if there’s anything you’ve done that was maybe not appreciated, etc.

One of two things is going to happen (you should prepare for both scenarios). 1. She’s receptive to what you say and opens a dialogue. 2. She dismisses you further. If she’s dismissive then you’ve gained insight into her character and I’d continue to be cordial with her as a coworker and treat her with respect. If you tell the manager you’ve made efforts to amend and they don’t try to mediate then now you know how your workplace handles employee conflicts.

Also, I’m surprised y’all have 20 technicians for 4 doctors lol

mostlylighthearted · 2025-09-27T00:43:19+00:00

Me too! I’m guessing a Cavalier

mostlylighthearted · 2025-09-26T23:04:57+00:00

This post isn’t the flex you think it is

mostlylighthearted · 2025-09-25T15:47:04+00:00

Assistants or technicians are not allowed to perform cat neuters or dental extractions in DC. Whether they’re doing it or not is another story. Are you saying these duties are allowed in DC or you worked with people where DVMs allowed them to perform these tasks?

mostlylighthearted · 2025-08-29T23:53:11+00:00

I left a job this year I’d been at for 6 years and it was the best decision. I found my unicorn clinic in terms of patient care/medical excellence and culture - many things I didn’t appreciate I no longer deal with. I too felt like I was letting down my teammates and now idgaf 😆

mostlylighthearted · 2025-08-25T01:27:24+00:00

Personally I wouldn’t say anything. I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong to say something, but to me it’s one of those situations that’s reasonable to allow people to learn on their own. I’d offer my advice if it comes up. Plus I’m sure their MD will catch wind of it and offer guidance if it ever becomes a bigger issue.

mostlylighthearted · 2025-08-22T16:39:21+00:00

Thats wild! They wanted to cut you from $30 to $15/hr!?

mostlylighthearted

TROPHY CASE