The Vet Tech Cafe's Podcast

Caffeinators, let's talk oncology. And let's have that conversation with Inge Breathnach! Inge (@oncologyrvn) came by the Vet Tech Cafe recently (TWICE due to technical issues!) to talk all things oncology. We discussed the importance of alignment, ethically speaking, between the oncology nurse and the oncology veterinarian, the importance of celebrating your wins no matter how small they may be, and flipping the script from the difficulty that comes with a cancer diagnosis to the impact we can make in helping the patient feel better and improve their quality of life, and give the owner more time with their pets. We covered a lot of ground in this one, but not nearly as much ground as Inge has covered in her career from Ireland to Australia to the UK-more on that in the episode!   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Taproom 51! Jeff has a new baby! We discuss Vet Tech title protection in Illinois and recap of our May episodes. We also discuss time off.. paternity, bereavement.  What else do you get for time off?  Our upcoming episodes are getting scheduled.  Onco, futile care and shelter medicine coming up soon!

Caffeinators, you may remember we recently spoke with Kelly Drescher Johnson and talked about end of life care and grief, and the company she started, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services. During that discussion she mentioned the idea of the "World's Worst Cocktail Party" and grief. We decided to make that a whole episode for Mental Health Awareness Month! This discussion was fascinating and made so much sense how we move through grief and how that applies not only to ourselves, but pet owners in our hospitals as well. This episode had no script-just an incredible discussion about grief and how we move through it, and resources for pet owners. Don't miss it! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, you may remember when we had Lynn Blake on in the Summer of 2024. There were a few points in that discussion that made us think she'd be a perfect fit for our May episodes where we focus on mental health in our field for Mental Health Awareness Month. Lynn cam back recently to tell us what she's doing now and we discussed mental health in our field from several different angles, including those that are a result of the current political landscape in the US. There are some difficult moments in this one, but, if you're in a leadership role, I can't recommend this episode enough as we discuss QPR training at length, and Lynn shares when she had to utilize that training, and so much more. Show Links: 988 Lifeline https://988lifeline.org QPR Training https://qprinstitute.com The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org RAINN https://rainn.org ACLU Know Your Rights https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Taproom # 50!  Lots to unpack here.  Here's some links we discussed Minnesota: https://navta.net/industry-news/minnesota-association-of-veterinary-technicians-mavt-update-historic-veterinary-technician-licensure-bill-passed/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKEdsZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5RkdkN1pOVjJNZFdva2pRAR6BEr4PhIBwEWu4Y8dwWRrIA6c0xlmY4yDXlH_Zw3cZIJYVwS0YooL4G_8gQg_aem_fGQxGLGSOUe9MNS7zcYIFQ Mid Level Practitioner: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=6958&id=12620873 DEI: https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2025/4/25/avmas-council-on-education-cites-federal-pressure-in-controversial-decision-to-eliminate-diversity-reporting-requirements  

Caffeinators, you know we love to highlight veterinary technicians and nurses that are out here blazing a path that makes us all better for it. This is another one of those episodes. We recently came across Amelia Sherwood, (@tissueviabilityvetnurse) and looking at her content and what she was doing, we knew we had to talk to her. She was gracious enough to to chat with us, and what an inspiring conversation! We talked all things wound management, healing, and the role of the veterinary technician or nurse in these cases, and how we can advocate for these patients and play such a crucial role in their healing and case outcome. It was fascinating to hear how she's progressed in the field of wound management and tissue viability, and the consulting she does now. You DO NOT want to miss this one. Come for the great discussion, stay for her accent! Show Links Website: www.tissueviabilityvetnurse.co.uk Instagram: @tissueviabilityvetnurse  Wound Resources: TissueViabilityQI - Etsy UK Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, it's time for another uplifting, inspiring episode. We've had a few people recommend Beth Stark to be a guest on the Vet Tech Cafe, and we finally got to meet her at HiVE Anaheim as the three of us are HiVE Champions. We recently sat down with her to talk about her unique path, her passion for helping veterinary technicians advance their careers, work to prevent burnout, and also her involvement in several organizations. We talked about the importance of being involved and engaged and so many other facets of our careers. We really covered a lot of ground in this one! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, as you know, we don't have many DVM guests come by the Vet Tech Cafe, but when they do, it's because they have a unique viewpoint on a current issue. This is that episode! Dr. Sam Hollister reached out to us a while back wanting to talk about the "U" word - unionization in veterinary medicine. As a veterinarian, he presented some very unique viewpoints and compelling arguments in support of unionization in our field, and has done a ton of research surrounding the issue as it pertains to our profession. We've long while we want to be an autonomous and self-governing profession, we are going to need the help of veterinarians that support us to make that happen, and Sam is one of those veterinarians. Make sure to give this episode a listen and let us know where you stand on unionization! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

We're back from Phoenix!  Recap of our annual Phoenix trip and a discussion of the CVT changes in NJ that will be happening soon!  Come in and have a beer with us!   Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, are you ready to hear from Megan Brashear? We honestly don't know why it took us so long to have her stop by the Vet Tech Cafe, but we sure are glad she finally did! If you don't know, Megan is one of the OG veterinary technician speakers and educators. She was do a series called On The Floor AtDove long before a webinar format was popular, and it is still very highly utilized on YouTube all these years later. It was great to hear about her unique career path and all the incredible things she's done and accomplished in her career. You don't want to miss this one! Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, by now you know we strive to bring you episodes with awesome guests that are out there doing amazing things as veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses. Sometimes, they're people we know; sometimes, they're people you recommend to us; and sometimes, we just get lucky and come across them. This is one of those episodes. Recently, Dave was working on a lecture and read something that was written by Laura Jones. He reached out to her, and this episode was born! We brought the Vet Tech Cafe to the UK to talk all things small animal internal medicine! Laura has created some amazing online content and educational resources for anyone looking for top notch IM education. Laura is blazing quite a path and it was fascinating to hear about-don't miss this one! Show Links: https://www.instagram.com/vetinternalmedicinenursing/?hl=en https://www.veterinaryinternalmedicinenursing.com/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, you know we love to highlight people in our field that are blazing their own path and starting businesses, and this episode is just that! Becky Lacy and her partner Nikole Hludzik recently came by the Vet Tech Cafe to talk to us about their brand new venture, Animalance RVA! Animalance is an animal ambulance/transport service serving the greated Richmond, Virginia area. They provide inter-hospital transport and transport to and from owner's home. By all accounts this is a very needed service in the area, and they have a ton of support within the local veterinary community. This was a great discussion about starting this kind of business-from the logistics to the legality of getting it off the ground. Don't miss it! Show Links: https://www.facebook.com/people/Animalance-RVA/61571331134338/ https://www.instagram.com/animalancerva/ https://animalhealthnewsandviews.com/richmond-vet-nurse-creates-animalance-rva-to-transport-pets-in-need/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYeyZoUo2x4   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we strive to talk to veterinary technicians from all corners of the profession. This episode is a nod to that. Kendra Dostaler, aka Kendra the Vet Tech on social, recently came by the Vet Tech Cafe! She recently added VTS(EVN) to her crednetials-Equine Veterinary Nursing. We talked about all things equine medicine, regulatory affairs, large animal representation on a national scale, and SO MUCH MORE. She has her own podcast, does instructional videos on youtube and more, and we talked about all of it. I would encourage everyone, particularly our small animal colleagues, to give a listen and take a look behind the large animal/equine curtain! Show Links: https://kendrathevettech.com/ https://www.aevnt.org/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Taproom #48.  How is January almost over?  We recap our January episodes with Kelly and Juliann.  One thing that got brought up was CE for CSRs.  Does your hospital provide CE for your CSRs?  They should!  Lots of great episodes in the works for the next couple months, tune in for a teaser!    

Caffeinators, it's been a goal of ours to have a guest from each VTS Academy on our podcast to talk about how amazing their Academy is, and this episode is another step in that walk. For this episode, Juliann London came by The Vet Tech Cafe to chat with us about all things Dermatology! ADVT may be be one of the newer and smaller Academies out there, but it is mighty. It was fascinating to hear about their unique application process, and some of the cool things a VTS (Dermatology) can do! You won't want to miss this one! Show Links: https://www.vetdermtech.org/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, have you ever found yourself in a situation at the hospital where you have an owner that is very upset about their loss of a beloved pet? And you feel like they may need help but you have no idea how to initiate that conversation or you don't know of any resources to offer, and you've also received no formal training on how to deal with this? Well, this is the episode for you! Kelly Drescher Johnson came by the Vet Tech Cafe during the holiday season to talk about her business, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services, and along the way we talked about grief, loss, spirituality, and so much more! And there's still so much ground we didn't cover, that Kelly will be back in May to talk more about all of this! Do not miss this episode! Show Links: www.veterinarychaplaincy.com Warm-Line: 833-4VET-CHP (833-483-8247) email: support@veterinarychaplaincy.com Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Happy holidays Caffeinators!  Last Taproom of the year.  We talk about our favorite episodes of 2024 and talk about a couple juicy controversial things going on in vet med right now.   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we hope you're having a wonderful holiday season! For our last episode of 2024, we have another incredible guest for you, from Scotland! Sam Fontaine, RVN, MSc, PGCAP, BSc, DipAVN(Med), FHEA, SFRET, recently came by the Vet Tech Cafe. She launched a Master's in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing program in the UK, that is completely online and takes students from around the globe. It was fascinating to hear about the creation of the program and how adaptable it is to different career paths. We also spent some time talking about life as an RVN in Scotland and what that looks like-SPOILER ALERT-they face many of the same challenges we do in the United States, just as all of the other countries from which we've had previous guests face. It's really interesting to see where the future of post-graduate education for veterinary technicians may go! Show Links: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/vet-nurse/ Videos on the Uni's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6g8Bq69zs (PG cert course leaders discussing the first year of the program) https://youtu.be/Hip9GrN6T9I (a short interview with Kat Carman, one of the recent US MSc graduates) Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we've often said that while we want to be an autonomous profession, we are going to need the help of veterinarians to get us there. Colleen Gallagher, CVT, is going to be one of those veterinarians. This is a unique episode in that Colleen is a CVT in Massachusetts, but she's also a second year veterinary student at Tufts University. So we talked a lot about veterinary technician issues and the landscape of our profession with a future veterinarian! It was a fascinating discussion to see the profession from a couple different angles and Colleen is very passionate about title protection, scope of practice, and many other facets of the veterinary technician profession that will undoubtedly be to our benefit as she moves on in her career. It was really refreshing to hear a future veterinarian have these thoughts and ideas-definitely give it a listen!   Show Links: AAHA Technician Utilization Guidelines: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2023-aaha-technician-utilization-guidelines/  AAHA "Stay, Please" Survey: https://www.aaha.org/resources/white-paper-factors-that-support-retentionand-drive-attrition-in-the-veterinary-profession/  NAVTA 2022 Demographic Survey: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11pmYzIouybfL55YsduRbaZ1TtMD1i2DB/view  NAVTA VNI 2022 Working Group Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o2g1-WckMsfpaigazgnz7YpKe1YP8k-y/view  The 3 Rs Collaborative (United States, formerly the North American 3 Rs Collaborative): https://3rc.org/  National Center for the 3 Rs (UK): https://nc3rs.org.uk/  ALAVTN, responsible for awarding VTS-LAM: https://www.alavtn.org/index.html AALAS, responsible for awarding ALAT/LAT/LATG designations: https://www.aalas.org/ ACLAM, specialty college for lab animal veterinarians: https://www.aclam.org/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Dave and Jeff wrap up their first HiVE event from Anaheim CA and discuss some past and future episodes.  Lots of great contacts and future guests at this event!  

Caffeinators, by now you've heard or read more than you want to about Proposition 129 in Colorado. For this episode, we spoke with Erin Henninger, BA, RVT, VTS(ECC), who is the Executive Director for the Colorado Association of RVT's (CACVT). While we talked about 129 and how it came to be and the money trail, we tried to not make it the focus of this discussion. Rather, we talked at length about CACVT and the amazing work they're doing to support veterinary technicians and VTS's in Colorado. Erin talked about scope of practice for veterinary technicians and VTS's and how that landscape is changing within the law to make this a more sustainable career in Colorado, and elevate VT's and VTS's. We covered a lot of ground in this episode, but I think most of us would agree the work CACVT is doing and the change they are making is what we want to see on a national level. Show Links: HB24-1047 Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice information CACVT's VPA position statement and plan for future   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we're going back to Canada for this one, so pack your bags! Or, you can stay remote like Leilani's employees and listen to her talk about Animal HealthLink! Leilani Mustillo has been an RVT for over 15 years, but as many of us have, experienced burnout and due to life circumstances needed to reimagine her career. She had a love of triage, and created Animal HealthLink in 2020, a tele triage company based in Canada. We talked about starting that type of business, logistics, and how it's grown to have helped over 300,000 pets so far. This was a fascinating discussion, and a great reminder that as veterinary technicians, all we need is an idea and we can create something really incredible!  Show Links: https://www.animalhealthlink.ca/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, you probably know Dave works at Action Vet Tech Services, a veterinary technician relief service company based in North Carolina. For this episode, we'd like to introduce you to Jacklyn Phillips, founder of AVTS! This is a great story many of us can relate to-being in this field for a long time, getting burned out, leaving, and trying to find your way back through a better way. She talks about the idea behind AVTS, how she got it started and then grew the business, all the way up to where it is today. She also provided some really valuable pointers that helped her on perhaps the most difficult aspect of it-the business part of it. Take a listen-this is an idea that truly could be far more utilized than it is. Show Links: https://actionvettechs.com/ https://www.sba.gov/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week!   We wanted to share this article we found on LinkedIn (via Liz Hughston) about Vet Tech Week.  It's an interesting stance on the subject.  Give it a read and let us know what you think! https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-stand-against-vet-tech-week-meagan-parks-sjcwe/?trackingId=AlLEd73mSeKS4O8Y1fSdQQ%3D%3D

Caffeinators, can you believe the Vet Tech Cafe has been open for FIVE years? As we embark on year 6, we're still going strong and we plan to bring you great episodes every other week. As always, we're starting year 6 with our good friend Liz Hughston. She's been a huge supporter of ours since we hatched this crazy scheme of a podcast, and we've been so fortunate to kick off each year with her on our show. It's always great to check in with her as she has pretty dang good pulse on what's happening in the profession. We cover a lot of ground in this one; you won't want to miss it. Thank you all for your support for the last 5 years-here comes Year 6! Show Links: https://www.natvpu.org/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, do you remember a few years ago when we had Tabitha Kucera come by the Vet Tech Cafe? We had a very positive response to that episode, and SHE'S BACK! It had been 4 years since we first chatted and see all that she has accomplished since. She is doing amazing work in the behavior world and if you're not already familiar, be sure to follow her social outlets linked below and her AWESOME podcast, 'Tails from a Vet Tech'. This is an area that we think ALL of us can better incorporate into our daily practices for the betterment of our patients. We think you'll dig this one! https://chirrupsandchatter.com https://tailsfromrvt.buzzsprout.com   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Coming to you "live" from the St Louis Grand Marriot Hotel for our post IVECCS Taproom.  Were you there?  Tell us what you loved about IVECCS this year. If you want to see this episode on YouTube, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/YA6XJ558Xd4?si=jXBUaan_OYjG9SKv

Caffeinators, we've talked A LOT about what good leadership and management looks like. And this episode with Lynn Blake is another peak into that world. There was some fascinating discussion in this episode, and some real life examples of what supporting your team looks like and what it can look like to actually be supported by management. This episode is a call to all veterinary practices to look inward and evaluate your processes and procedures and protocols and how those affect your team. We can say this with confidence-Lynn will be back on the Vet Tech Cafe. Show Links: Lynn's handle is @vetmedmanager on Instagram https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-blake-cvt-cvbl-ffcp-61b9b2141?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app Statistical information from the 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics about racial diversity in veterinary medicine: https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/it-takes-village DEIB certifications built by & for veterinary medicine blendvet: https://www.blend.vet https://www.instagram.com/blend.vet?igsh=NG10bDN1OW5rOXY4 Veterinary associations to support: Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA) https://mcvma.org National Association of Black Veterinarians (NABV) https://nabvonline.org Natives in Vet Med https://www.nativesinvetmed.org Latinx Veterinary Medical Associations (LVMA) https://latinxvma.org  Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP) https://www.aavmp.org Pride Veterinary Medical Community (Pride VMC) https://pridevmc.org Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we're going International again! IVECCS is next week, so what better time to chat with Joanna Kaczmarczyk, a veterinary technician from Poland (and still credentialed as an RVN in the UK as well)! She talks about the veterinary technician profession in Poland and also compares and contrasts it to her time in the UK. She is active with PAVECC, the Polish Association of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, and a part of what will be the FIRST referral hospital in Poland, scheduled to open in September. This was a great discussion! Show Links: Poland Association of Veterinary Emergency and Critical care:  https://www.pavecc.pl/en/ Registration: https://www.pavecc.pl/en/produkt/iii-rd-international-conference-of-veterinary-emergency-medicine-pavecc/ Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, you may remember our episode from a couple years ago with Sam Geiling, where we talked about her work starting a vet tech program in Hawaii, helping form a Hawaiian vet tech association, and much more. Well, she's back! We had a great conversation about her current work with the Government Relations Committee for NAVTA, moving back to the mainland to Minnesota, and her new work with Animal Policy Group and some of the controversy surrounding that. When we think about laws that are enacted that shape our profession, there is often YEARS of work put into it by several people, and this was a fascinating look into a small part of that process. Show Links: Sam's Work: https://animalpolicygroup.com/ NAVTA GRC: https://navta.net/volunteer-opportunities/government-relations/ Vet Tech of the Year: https://navta.net/awards/veterinary-technician-of-the-year/ HiVE: https://navc.com/vet-nursetech-hive/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, if you've been with us since the beginning, you may remember Liza Wysong as our guest for our 4th episode. We did things very differently back then (almost 5 years ago!) and a lot of has changed at the Vet Tech Cafe, and a lot has changed for Liza too! We checked in with her recently as she is now the program director for the brand-spanking-new veterinary technician program at Rowan College of South Jersey. This program is an extension of the new DVM program at Rowan University set to start in 2025, and it's exciting to hear the ideas for integration and collaboration between the two programs and how that might evolve in the future! Liza has been a huge supporter of ours since the beginning and it was great to reconnect with her! Show Links:  https://www.rcsj.edu/STEM/veterinary-technology-aas https://www.rcsj.edu/selectiveadmissions/vettech Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, buckle up! This is another good one! We had self-described disrupter Becky Taylor by the Vet Tech Cafe! She is doing some amazing things up in Canada, and has been for a very long time-she's a vintage vet tech, like us!  She's a communication nerd with a Master's Degree in Professional Communication, and has gone so far as so start her own business, BS Communication Strategies (wait till you hear the story about that name!). She teaches people to communicate better through an evidence-based, interactive approach. This was an incredibly fun discussion-don't miss out! Show Links: Website: https://www.bscommunication.ca   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bscommunicationstrategies/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2CommNerds   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bs-communication-strategies/posts/?feedView=all   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaeFJiEczkacf7fLknIWo8w   Mobilizing RVTs Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luXInWhEMhU   ICCVM Website: https://www.iccvm.ca Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Welcome to the latest Vet Tech Taproom!  Grab a beer and chat with us about the bill in Florida that removes the requirement for continuing education for a lot of licenses in the state including veterinarians and veterinary technicians.  Let us know your thoughts Here's a link to the Bill:  https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2024/html/3428    

Caffeinators, you know we've talked about veterinary technician education from several viewpoints, and we will continue to do so. This is another one of those episodes. Carrie Fellows in an RVT who was one of the first to graduate from LMU's recently started Master's program with a Master's Degree in Veterinary Clinical Care. We explored the program at length and it made for a fascinating discussion about where it could lead and what we do with it. As Carrie laid out, with the path her career has taken, the VTS path was never really for her but this program absolutely was. You're really gonna enjoy this one.   Show Links https://thevetspets.com/contact/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-fellows-mvcc-rvt-491430a8/ https://lmumvcc.myportfolio.com/general-program-information   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, are your people cat people? If so, then you probably know of Ellen Carozza. You may know her from her educational page on IG, @thecatlvt, as well. She has a VTS in feline medicine, one of the first to achieve it, and does incredible work with our feline friends. We chatted about the path the feline VTS, her amazing work with The Chris Griffey Memorial Feline Foundation, and SO MUCH MORE. This episode is not to be missed, especially if you love cats! Show Links https://criticalkittens.org Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, you'll want to tune in for this one! We first started talking with Erica Emmett over two years ago about being a guest on our show, and as always, life happens. We finally got to record this episode, and it was fascinating to hear the professional path she's taken in the two years since! She's started Fyr Consulting which focuses on individuals and team coaching for veterinary professionals. She's been in vet med over 25 years and she draws on her experience to make the teams she coaches even better! We're so glad it took us 2 extra years to connect because we got to learn about Fyr, which we wouldn't have previously. Sometimes things just work out!   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Fyr Consulting: https://fyrconsultingus.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Welcome back to the Taproom.  We recap our mental health series and look forward to our upcoming episodes.  Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, welcome back to Mental Health Awareness Month! We're continuing this mini-series with Julie Morse-Elliott, RVT, VTS(ECC). She's had a long career as an RVT and is now pursuing registration as a professional counselor to aid those working in veterinary medicine. She is also in the midst of starting a foundation with a goal to provide free counseling to those that need support after experiencing workplace related trauma, and will be heading up the veterinary division of the foundation. This was a fascinating discussion to learn about the process and what the future may hold. Both of these episodes this month were great examples of RVT's finding a new passion later in their career, yet finding a way to make it fit under the veterinary umbrella and blaze a new path from which we will all benefit. These episodes are not to be missed!   Show Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-morse-elliott-rvt-vts-ecc-1ba373a7/?originalSubdomain=ca https://bbvsh.com/ https://www.empoweringveterinaryteams.com/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, it's already May and if you've followed us for a while, you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we dedicate our May episodes to mental health issues in our profession. This year, we have two awesome episodes for you-each featuring an RVT, both from Canada, that are pivoting in their careers from clinical medicine to supporting veterinary workers in the area of Mental Health. First up is Kathleen Dunbar, RVT, VTS(Clinical Practice-C/F). She has a Masters Degree in Social Work and is working to become a veterinary social worker, as she has worked in the mental health field for 25 years alongside her veterinary career. Her passion is death, grief, and end of life support and provides both individual and group support for pet parents and veterinary team members throughout the east coast of Canada. This was a fascinating and thought-provoking discussion you don't want to miss!   Show Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenmadunbar/?originalSubdomain=ca https://www.mcha.ns.ca/ https://www.carnegyanimalhospital.com/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, pack your bags and fasten your seatbelts. We're going to where the water spins backwards. We're headed back to the Southern Hemisphere, specifically New Zealand! We met a wonderful Kiwi at IVECCS last year, Ashleigh Walsh, at the AVECCTN pinning ceremony. When we learned she was there from New Zealand we knew we had to have her on as a guest. It took until THIS WEEK to figure out the logistics as she's 19 hours and 16 hours ahead of Jeff and Dave, respectively. What an awesome conversation! We learned some things that blew our minds-did you know New Zealand doesn't have snakes? We talked so much about what it looks like to become an RVN in New Zealand, the fact that Ashleigh is the FIRST VTS(ECC) there, the profession and so much more. This episode is so much fun. Come for her accent, stay for her knowledge. We really enjoyed this one and we hope you do too!   Show Links:  https://arcvets.co.nz/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

We got lots to talk about in this Taproom Episode!  We've got outside sources criticizing our profession and we think you know who we're talking about.  We also dive into the concept of CPR/DNR policies  What is your hospital's CPR policy?  When do you bring that up with the client?  Do you have a flat fee for CPR? Who has that discussion with the owner?  Let us know in the comments!

Caffeinators, are you ready to have your mind blown? We've long thought it's time to rethink veterinary technician education, and many out there agree. Thankfully, Jennifer Gunther is someone that is out there doing it. She's been an educator at Denver Community College's vet tech program for 20+ years, and they have recently started an apprenticeship program that exists separately and in addition to their standard, 2 year AVMA accredited program. But here's the deal: It's not an alternate route/alternate pathway. They still graduate with a 2 year degree, it's still AVMA approved, they just work 30 hours a week at an approved hospital and do the education part remotely. Jennifer discusses all the ins and outs of an apprenticeship program, and the hoops they had to go through with the US Department of Labor to get approval, along with vetting the hospitals and applicants, and SO MUCH MORE. She talks challenges and the uniqueness of the program-it is the FIRST and ONLY so far in the US! Is this the future of veterinary technician education? Take a listen and let us know what you think.   Show Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gunther-a2556b110/ https://www.ccd.edu/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, have you ever thought about what it would be like to be a traveling veterinary technician? Maybe have a home base, but otherwise constantly on the road traveling to all corners of the US and working relief? Then have we got an episode for you! Our friend Simon Chavez recently stopped by one of our locations-it may have been Chicago, Boston, or Anchorage, we're not sure-but we had a very interesting conversation on what life and a career look like as a locum technician! We talked about how Simon built his network of hospitals he does most of his relief at, how he builds his schedule, getting started, taxes, travels, licensing, all of it. We literally circled the map in this discussion, and we're sure that in the time since we recorded this episode, Simon has re-circled the US again as well! Oh, and we also talk about his traveling sidekick, Bruce Wayne!   Show Links: https://www.mspca.org/medical-centers/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-chavez-4b071436/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Hello from Phoenix!  Our second "staff meeting" trip to Phoenix.  We recap our trip and have a discussion about "Things we don't do anymore".  

Caffeinators, if you've been listening in a while, you've heard several guests recommend Doc Jim when we ask who they think we should talk to. And guess what?! We got him! We don't often have veterinarians on our podcast, but there are those who are integral to our development as a profession and Doc Jim is certainly one of them! Holy cow was this episode fun! He is such a huge supporter "of our amazing profession" and we talk extensively about how he gave up practicing as a small animal veterinarian over 40 years ago to blaze the path of being involved in veterinary technician education. It's really mind-boggling what a trailblazer he was at that time. We talk a lot about vet tech education and how that's evolved and how the leadership in our field has evolved as well. This episode is as fun as it is fascinating. You don't want to miss this one!   Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jim-hurrell-40119b61/   Our Links: Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, anchors aweigh, it's time to set sail! Have you heard of Vet Tech Life? Have you heard of CE on the Sea? If so, then you know Kelly Cronin. We know her from our VTS(ECC) study group days over 10 years ago, and she came by the Vet Tech Cafe recently to talk about this amazing CE event, which recently sailed, along with so many other topics! She talked a lot about management and transitioning to that role, we talked a lot about financial fitness and how we can achieve that in our field **SPOILER ALERT**-it is possible, and also her consulting business. We also touched on her vacation property rental business and so much more. We feel like we circled the globe in this one, and we kinda did! Download today! Kelly's Links: All of the things:  linktr.ee/kellylynncronin www.vettechlife.com  VetTechLife CE on the Sea 2025: https://vettechlife.com/2025-cruise-info-here VetTechLife CE on the Sea 2025 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/vtlceonthesea/ VetTechLife financial fitness : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1565420814266226/ Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylynncronin/ Email: kelly.lynn.cronin@gmail.com  Online and ondemand courses: https://successstrategies.podia.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Books-Kelly-Lynn-Cronin/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AKelly+Lynn+Cronin Our Links: Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, it's time for our monthly checkin from the Vet Tech Taproom. Have you checked in with yourself lately? We got together to discuss a couple things for this episode, mostly what happens when an owner has a bad experience or negative outcome at the hospital and threatens to go "public"-meaning social media or the news? How do you or your hospital respond? We give our analysis of what we see happen most frequently, and then openly discuss what we think should happen. What do you think? We cover other ground here too, so download today and join the conversation! 

Caffeinators, fasten your safety belt because this episode is taking from the US to British Columbia, to Ontario, Canada, to India. Yah. Recently, Marina John, Vice President of the British Columbia Veterinary Technologists Association reached out to us and we had a discussion about soooo many important topics ranging from title protection, association work, charity work, involvement, and boundaries, and acupuncture, and just so much more! She also talks about this importance of representation in our field. You don't want to miss this one, and there is so much to unpack in this episode, you might need to listen to it twice! Show Link: Marina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-john-211695282/ British Columbia Veterinary Technologists Association: https://www.bcvta.com/ Our Links: Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Caffeinators, we need more personality in our field. We need young minds and fresh faces with big goals to grow into the roles many of us currently occupy, and Ralia Cortinas may just be one of those people that checks those boxes. Ralia is currently a student in the Distance Learning program through Purdue University, but the credentialing process is clearly very important to her. We talk a lot about her being an OJT assistant in Texas and some of her DVM colleagues views of that, while also looking forward to the future. Ralia reminds us how important it is to have hobbies OUTSIDE of vet med-no, going home and caring for a house/farm full or pets and critters doesn't count. Just take a few minutes and listen to us read Ralia's bio she sent to us, and you'll see why this is going to be a great episode! Show Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013360740935&mibextid=ZbWKwL   Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rmc_raliamarie?_t=8jALpt2VRTa&_r=1   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@raliamarie8409?si=bRPV4gPLGkE3JxJg   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechraliamarie?igsh=N2g1amNxd2RxbXp6   Staring into the Face of Evil: https://www.facebook.com/staringintothefaceofevil?mibextid=ZbWKwL   Abducted Prairie Dog Studio: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554151920382&mibextid=ZbWKwL   Our Links: Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.

Happy New Year from the Vet Tech Taproom! We briefly discuss our "resolutions" for 2024 and encourage you to post yours in the comments! We review a couple of our recent episode and preview a couple forthcoming ones as several of them revolve around veterinary technician education. We also look at NAVTA's list of nominee's for Veterinary Technician of the Year, a couple of whom we've been fortunate enough to have as previous guests on the Vet Tech Cafe! We also look at "3 must reads" from VMX courtesy of DVM360, linked below. Again, 2 of the 3 we've been fortunate enough to interview previously, the third will take some doing to make happen, and you'll see why.

Caffeinators, we talk about veterinary technician education all the time, but we don't often get to talk to the stakeholders-the students. Our next two episodes focus on that. First up is Sydney Hoevet, a student in the vet tech program at Portland Community College. It's always refreshing to look at our profession through fresh, less jaded eyes than our own. It's also really nice to hear the profession seems to be in good hands going forward. In this episode, we talk about a common link between Sydney and a previous Vet Tech Cafe guest that we didn't know about, what veterinary technician curriculum currently looks like and some of the struggles vet tech students face. A fun "aside" in this episode is that her twin sister is in human medicine and wanting to go to human nursing school and we talk about some of the similarities and differences there too! Show Links: https://www.pawteam.org/ https://go.atdove.org/technicians/ https://www.wildwoodfarmsanctuary.org/ Our Links: Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/ Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do.