Do You Have The Right Traits to Be a Veterinarian Assistant?

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If you love animals, a career as a Veterinarian Assistant could be a great option for you. You get to be around animals every day, and you can make a difference in their lives and the lives of their families. But aside from being an animal lover, do you know what key traits you should have to be a Veterinarian Assistant?

You are patient. Your patients won’t be able to tell you what’s wrong—at least not with words—and they may be scared to be at a vet’s office. Their owners may also be panicked and worried. It’s important that you stay calm when you deal with pets and their owners, and rely on your training to know how to handle a sick or injured animal.

You are empathetic. Most people consider their cat, dog, bird or other pet to be a member of the family. This means that they might be just as scared and worried about their pet’s health as they would be about any other member of the family. Especially when the animal is sick or injured, it’s important to relate to the pet’s owner and let them know that you understand their concern.

You pay attention to detail. Part of the job of a Veterinarian Assistant is to clean the veterinary instruments and exam rooms, and sanitize lab and surgical tools and equipment. Proper techniques must be used to avoid the spread of dangerous germs and bacteria. Details matter because mistakes can make animals sick.

You are a good listener. You may be the first person a patient’s owner can fully explain symptoms and concerns to. Make sure you hear what the person says, ask questions to clarify as needed, and jot down important notes that will help the veterinarian quickly get up to speed.

You are resilient. While you’ll have countless great days at work, helping save animals or keeping them healthy, there will be days that things don’t go so well. You’ll be extremely busy or might just have an “off” day. Or worse, pets won’t make it and their owners will be heartbroken. Those times will weigh on you, but you will need to bounce back and commit to providing excellent care to the next patient. Like any job, being a Veterinarian Assistant will have its good days and bad, but the good days will be incredibly rewarding.

You have a sense of humor. When you work with animals, you have to expect the unexpected — and keep an extra pair of scrubs at the ready! Whether it’s dealing with yucky animal surprises or having a knack for lightening the mood with a well-timed joke, a good sense of humor will help you find pleasure and success in the veterinary field.

You have physical stamina. You’ll be on the go all day. And you will need to hold animals in the perfect position for the vet to perform examinations and procedures. In some cases, you may have to hold the animal just right to perform a task on them yourself. All of these possibilities mean that you will be expected to easily move around and get comfortable with animal-restraint positions.

If these 7 traits sound like you, a career as a Veterinarian Assistant may be your calling. Check out the Certificate in Veterinary Assistant Program from Charter College in Vancouver, WA and Oxnard, CA today to learn more about how to put these traits to use!