Archived Articles - 1998

How To Prevent Job Burnout

Employment Guidelines for Foreign Veterinary Technicians and Nurses entering the United States of America

History Was Made in Kansas City

AAEP Position on Dentistry

Special Week Designated in Canada

How To Prevent Job Burnout
As the excitement of the holidays dwindles, and the winter months set in, be aware of the tell-tale signs of job burnout. If you find yourself starting to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, bored, or depressed, follow these tips to prevent the winter blahs and avoid job burnout.

• Set realistic goals. Don' t try to do too much in too little time.
• Set limits. It' s OK to say no occasionally. Learn to delegate your work or ask CO-workers for help.
• Exercise. Working out is a proven stress reducer.
• Relax. Practice relaxation techniques. Take a minute to close your eyes, relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders, and breathe deeply.
• Listen to your body. If you feel tired and run down, you may need a break.
• Take vacations. Even if it' s not an ideal time at work, it' s important for your mental and physical health.
• Treat yourself. Spend some time alone and go to a nice restaurant or to the salon.

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Employment Guidelines for Foreign Veterinary Technicians
Employment Guidelines for Foreign Veterinary Technicians and Nurses entering the United States of America
To Legally work in the United States of America an entry visa and work permit must be obtained. The Department of Immigration and Naturalization will handle entry visas and the Department of Labor-Alien Certification will handle work permits. The American consulate or embassy in your country should be able to provide the necessary documents.
Obtaining the necessary documents to work in the United States is the first step. In order to work as a Veterinary Technician in the United States, the rules and regulations of a particular state must also be considered. Each state can vary dramatically in the rules and regulations that technicians practice under. To help you determine the practice requirements for a particular state, contact:
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Kansas City, MO 64111
phone (816) 931-1504
fax (816) 931-1604
info@aavsb.org
www.aavsb.org
Look for the DLR information on a specific state from their Directory of Veterinary Technician credentialing requirements.

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The morning began with a welcome from NAVTA President, Freya Burnett. The morning discussion was lead by Mr. Brian Becker, President of Leaders Edge, Ltd. The discussion focused on marketing strategies for professional associations. Mr. Becker outlined the "9 Keys to Successful Associations" as well as "5 Keys to Killing Your Association." Attendees were able to work in small groups to further discuss the qualities of a good leader.

The afternoon began with several roundtable discussions on one of the following topics: Membership Recruitment, Member Retention and Increased Participation, Working with State VMAs, Developing Public Relations Information, NAVTA Affiliate Membership, and Developing Relationships with Allied Groups. The discussions and brainstorming lasted one hour, with each group presenting a summary of its ideas and thoughts.

A presentation by Lori Renda-Francis, NAVTA Recording Secretary, detailed activities of the Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians in celebration of National Veterinary Technician Week, 1997. Lori described all the planning, logistics, and which events were most successful.

Legislative issues were also presented by Charlotte Ronan, Executive Director of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). She spoke about the basic steps required to change laws and regulations pertaining to technicians within a state. Also presented was a list of current regulations and contact addresses for the state representatives to use in their newsletters to assist members who may be relocating to other states.

Attendees' post conference questionnaires indicated great enthusiasm for the program that took place. They indicated that the content of the workshop was excellent and recommended the program expanded to two days with additional opportunities for roundtable discussions. Watch for more information on the possibility of future workshops.

AAEP Position on Dentistry
The American Association of Equine Practitioners issued a position statement this January, asserting that the practice of equine dentistry should be limited to licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians working under the employ of licensed veterinarians.

According to the statement, "any dental activity requiring sedation, tranquilization, analgesia, and procedures which are invasive of the tissues of the oral cavity, including but not limited to extraction of permanent teeth, amputation of large molars, incisors, and canine teeth, extraction of first premolars (wolf teeth) and repair of damaged or diseased teeth must be performed by a licensed veterinarian." Other procedures including rasping or floating of the teeth and the removal of deciduous incisors and premolar caps are considered to be the proper province of "a certified veterinary technician under the employ of a licensed veterinarian."

This positions statement says, in essence, that equine dental technicians, many of whom are neither veterinarians no working under the employ of a licensed veterinarian are practicing veterinary medicine without a license and should be enjoined from doing so.

Special Week Designated in Canada
The Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists (AAAHT) has announced the establishment of an Animal Health Technologists Week which will be the third week in October each year. The goals of the week are to increase exposure of the AHT in Alberta and to better educate the public on the role of the AHT and the role of the AAAHT.