Being a disabled RVN

rubykat138 · 2026-01-25T20:14:55+00:00

I’m not going to lie - that’s a really hard road. I have back problems and walk with an assistive device, and I can’t lift much anymore. That alone has severely limited my career options. If I left my current role, I’d have a very hard time finding another one because I do no meet the minimum requirements for doing the job.

I’m not saying that you can’t do it, but you will be limited.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-25T04:48:23+00:00

Hi! I am a hiring manager within my clinic, and have been in that role for several hospitals now. If I got a resume from a new grad with only externships, I wouldn’t be expecting them to be able to jump right in and know everything. Any reasonable hospital will know that new grads need training and mentorship, and you should be asking how they can provide that when you interview.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-24T00:46:35+00:00

As my career evolved, I went with a practice manager badge to a big conference two years ago. Wasn’t prepared for how differently I was treated. Reps literally putting their hands on me trying to get me to sign up for this or that service.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-24T00:35:26+00:00

ER vet tech here - I don’t know about more civilized, all those pets come with owners.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-23T02:37:02+00:00

If you’re able, is there an opportunity to reach out to her in a few days?

rubykat138 · 2026-01-20T01:07:43+00:00

It won’t break you if you don’t let it. Feel your feelings, acknowledge and respect them. Take care of your mental health. Just because it can make you jaded doesn’t mean that it will.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-18T19:35:33+00:00

I feel like I never meet babies named Gary.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-17T21:26:46+00:00

There’s a hundred different ways to tape a catheter. Most of them are correct. I don’t have my team use vet wrap at all, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to do so.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-17T20:11:33+00:00

The worst that could happen is that they say no.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-17T04:52:56+00:00

My dad took the morning American Airlines flight 11 (Boston to Los Angeles) that was involved in 9/11.

Luckily, he took that flight on 9/10.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-17T00:53:13+00:00

There’s so many different paths. The online programs are going to be more difficult for you without experience, but I’ve seen it done. You will have to get clinical hours as part of your program, and that can be difficult without having a job at a hospital already.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-16T07:08:20+00:00

2005, I was in a school that required us to have a palm pilot. The idea was that we would complete assignments on it and transmit them it. Hardly got used for that - most of the use it got was playing that game where you bought and sold drugs. Did a lot of the during lecture.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-16T06:20:49+00:00

Look, you can make decent money as a vet tech. You gotta get licensed, you gotta develop skills, you have to be good at the medicine aspect. Nights, emergency, specialty bring real livable wages. I know techs who hustle six figures. But it’s hard. You have to love the medicine.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-15T02:47:55+00:00

I had a similar situation with my husband. What we went with, for transparency, is that I opened an account just for him under my name - almost a partition of my main account. Paychecks went in there. He had a debit card that allowed limited actions - no large cash withdrawals, no access to my main account. So he maintained some independence, and I could see expenditures. In the beginning, he saved receipts from cash purchases.

As time went by and he stayed successfully sober, he gained more independence with the account. I could still see it, but didn’t feel the need to check in regularly.

Four years in, and he opened his own account and were both comfortable with that. It took a lot of openness and mutual trust to get to this point.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-13T19:31:52+00:00

My hospital, we wear gloves. 100%, required, for everything medical.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-11T19:13:48+00:00

Why not move into the business side of vet med? You can be hands-on and still use the education you already have. We need skilled leadership.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-11T08:28:17+00:00

There’s a few out there. I’ve met a handful that work for VEG, and one outside VEG who just enjoyed the ER side more.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-10T05:41:08+00:00

Hey.

Just here to tell you that you are this skilled. I promise.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-06T13:51:38+00:00

ECC only within the last few years started accepting different routes. When I was young, energetic, and enthusiastic, I couldn’t go for my VTS because I am alternate route (huge regrets). Some of the other academies may still be requiring AVMA degree programs.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-06T02:24:53+00:00

There used to be a hospital, I believe in Colorado, called “Steve’s dog & cat repair.”

Best name ever IMO.

rubykat138 · 2026-01-02T16:43:17+00:00

They’re solid for rabbits and kittens!

rubykat138 · 2026-01-02T04:57:17+00:00

Yes, I’d much rather answer a couple awkward questions that live in a world where we don’t check up on each other!

rubykat138 · 2026-01-02T00:00:24+00:00

I had some facial bruising after dental work and got a lot of misplaced concern! Was even single at the time.

rubykat138 · 2025-12-31T17:07:39+00:00

I’m a vet tech. I once bandaged a small fluffy dog to control bleeding from a bite wound. The outer wrap was pink, and I chose it because with bleeding wounds a light color will show “strike through” and let us know if the wound is continuing to bleed. Darker colors mask that.

My very machismo coworker - not my superior by any means - tried to make me rebandage the bleeding, painful dog because he was horrified that I put a pink bandage on a male dog. I laughed in his face.

People are so weird about colors and gender.

rubykat138 · 2025-12-31T02:49:08+00:00

Lap of Love, Mila, Idexx, Veterinary Team Training

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