Veterinary technicians continue to struggle with low pay, compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as a lack of recognition and career advancement opportunities. Underutilization was the main topic during the AVMA’s house of delegates Veterinary Information Forum. Discussions included:
- how to encourage the consistent use of credentialed veterinary technicians as part of a health care team
- lack of recognition for technicians
- the differences between employees trained on the job and credentialed technicians
- high turnover rates
- low job satisfaction
- low wages for technicians
Source: JAVMA,March 1, 2019. Link.
(AVMA) current surveys are not equipped to gather data on how exactly they are utilized, so we are in the process of reviewing how to better collect this data. – Matthew J. Salois, PhD, AVMA
Also see: CVTEA Standards and Skills Review 2019 – NAVTA Members’ Survey, February 16, 2019. Link. NAVTA members are invited to provide your feedback via survey on the following Standards and sections of the CVTEA Appendix I – Essential and Recommended Skills List as well as Appendix H-Equipment and Instructional Resource List.
INSIGHTS: Veterinary technicians are the largest group of trained animal health professionals. While OTC retailers build out services and sourcing options basically unencumbered, it is disheartening to find our professional leadership groups still in measurement mode.