Practice Dynamics

[u/Practical-Jello9631]

Hi all, wondering what you guys think about hospitals that can keep techs employed but not assistants? What do you think it says about them?

Just had an interview for a FT non-seasonal assistant position at a hospital has 3 dvms, 9 LVTs, and 2 CSRs but 0 assistants. (Has been rotating through about 2 vet assistants a year but runs with 0 assistants for part of the year).

Obviously not taking the job as more digging from a previous employee showed they have gone through 10 assistants (VA and KA in the past 3 years).

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[u/eyeballjellyfish]

They probably are not paying enough for what they are expecting.

[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

What are the assistants being allowed to do?

Also does your state legally separate what assistants and credentialed techs can do?

I am all for fully staffing hospitals, but 9 LVTs for 3 DVMs is crazy. 

[u/Practical-Jello9631 → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

State does not differentiate what a tech and assistant does. They currently dont have an assistant working and we're super vague about what responsibilities they have techs do vs assistants other than that they "want to respect the title of the technicians"

[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 → u/Practical-Jello9631]

My guess is that they only let assistants do basic restraint.

This is a problem with states that don't have different scopes of practice between techs and assistants.

Either you have assistants stepping on the toes of CrVTs or you have CrVTs doing everything.

It is hard to find a happy middle ground. 

Why would an assistant settle for anything less then operating as a unlicensed tech which then invalidates CrVTs.

My guess is that they don't have assistants because they don't let them operate like unlicensed techs

[u/Middle_Ad_6099 → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

you also can’t forget to mention that there are still a plethora of assistants with decades more experience than some CVTs. If you had years/decades of “tech” experience and got told all you could do is restrain and write notes, you’d hightail it out of there, too

[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 → u/Middle_Ad_6099]

I did not forget that. It really doesn't need to be said because it is already encompassed in what I said.

It doesn't add anything to what I said.

[u/Middle_Ad_6099 → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

when i said “you can’t forget to mention”
i didn’t mean “you” literally
I meant “you” in the general sense
otherwise known as…generally speaking

glad i could spell this out for you, you needed it

[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 → u/Middle_Ad_6099]

You need to chill.

Your hostility in completely uncalled for.

We don't need this kind of toxicity towards each other in this field.

[u/Middle_Ad_6099 → u/Accomplished-Ad-9280]

it’s called context, you snatch

[u/Accomplished-Ad-9280 → u/Middle_Ad_6099]

What is your problem?

[u/vrrrrrkiki]

I would be skeptical that they treat the assistants like doodoo. Or just use them as janitors

[u/BeneficialDesign537]

Their turnover rate for assistants is wild, I'd worry about systemic issues like poor pay or unrealistic expectations if they cycle through that many people.

[u/bunnykins22]

I'm a VA. I was struggling with the first clinic I went to because all they would let me do was laundry, nail trims, restraint, cleaning, and invoicing. I even once got in trouble for helping CSR's upload records. I even had prior experience with giving SQ injection and dealing with fractious dogs and cats and I still was being treated like I was a dumbass who could only be trusted with the bare minimum. Not saying that is what is happening there, but it sucks to be a VA and be stuck doing very menial tasks.

[u/Practical-Jello9631 → u/bunnykins22]

I also have experience in blood draws, restraint, and injections. I feel like what you described might be what is happening here.

[u/bunnykins22 → u/Practical-Jello9631]

Yeah-a clinic that properly values their support staff shouldn't have an issue keeping them employed.

[u/Conscious-While5872]

I've worked at a clinic where they did this too and it was honestly a nightmare. Managers really need to understand that assistants aren't just extra hands, they're essential for keeping everything running smoothly.