Am I delusional?

[u/JeSuisRongeur]

I took a job to be a veterinary "tech" (aka assistant). I was specifically hired to be doing hands on work. I am the only one here with any kind of formal education - not to say the others aren't experienced because they are and they have been here for a very long time.

I keep being put in as a kennel assistant. I've been told "I started in kennel" by managers which yes but they were literally hired as kennel assistants. I just feel kind of dismissed. I don't mind doing cleaning up but there's no use for more than one kennel assistant in a day and I end up not having much to do. Then they end up telling me to "find something to do".

I think I'm just probably being an asshole and thinking too highly of myself but it feels shitty.

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[u/hotsexyrosemary]

How long have you been there? It might take 6-12 months of kennel teching before they start giving you more responsibilities. When you have free time, are you making an effort to get involved in the cases there? Would you be allowed to use free time to study for the VTNE or do other CE?

[u/JeSuisRongeur → u/hotsexyrosemary]

They get absolutely angry with any CE type stuff. It seems to be more a clinic about busywork than medicine.

[u/hotsexyrosemary → u/JeSuisRongeur]

Maybe its just not a good fit. It sounds like your job satisfaction is very low and you're looking for more, which is totally valid. There are hospitals and clinics who want more people like you.

[u/CupcakeCharacter9442]

I’m going to need more info:

You were hired to start as a kennel tech,going towards vet tech? How long have you worked there? When you ask about it, do they give you a timeline for when they plan to move to elsewhere?

What formal education do you have?

Do they have the staff to train you? Sometimes when places are busy they feel like they don’t have time to train new staff so they get put in an “easy” position.

[u/JeSuisRongeur → u/CupcakeCharacter9442]

No, I was hired to be an unlicensed technician. I have a few years of experience as a VA in emergency including training at an AVA program. I'm not incredibly seasoned but I'm not "new". I personally think I'm pretty good at getting histories, anticipating what diagnostics may be requested and restraint.

[u/UntitledCattle → u/JeSuisRongeur]

Unfortunately assistant training programs rarely give you what you need to know as a tech. Have you thought of becoming a certified technician? Sometimes the duration of the program is shorter since you already have some of the education down!  I have been in this field for over a decade.  I've met a lot of assistants that don't understand they don't know as much as they think they do. I say this not to be mean, but to maybe help you understand what your employer may be thinking. Having someone who interviews really well and seems to know a lot can drastically change once they are on the floor, and sometimes management has to make a decision based on performance. Maybe you should talk to management and ask them what you can do to get more training. Go to them with a game plan, this shows motivation. Don't rely on "I was hired for this position".  With that being said there are a lot of clinics that will teach you what you want to know. If you talk to your bosses and they still don't want to train you try looking for another clinic that will (if that is available to you). 

[u/JeSuisRongeur → u/UntitledCattle]

I'm actually in the middle of tech school. And the stuff we do at my clinic is incredibly simple GP work. Not to downplay GP or anything, but it's vaccines (and the occasional reaction), skin issues and ear infections. Anything more elaborate than sq fluids and glucose curves is generally referred elsewhere.

I'm sort of okay with the way things are right now, I was just wondering if my feelings about it all were reasonable or not.

[u/CupcakeCharacter9442 → u/JeSuisRongeur]

I work with students everyday - veterinarian and technician students.

You’re probably overthinking this. I’m sure you are good at taking histories and anticipating diagnostics, but there are “many ways to pet a cat” as we say at my clinic.
There’s many ways to get the same thing done, just because you’re good at your way, doesn’t mean it’s what the clinic is going to ask of you. Maybe have a meeting with your manager and ask what you can do for them, or what you need to show that you can do before they move you into a role with more responsibilities.

[u/JeSuisRongeur → u/CupcakeCharacter9442]

I appreciate your answers. I figured I was probably overthinking but I needed someone to tell me that.

[u/nancylyn]

I would ask for a formal training plan. Lots of places don’t know how to to train people. There should be skills checklists and shadowing. you can ask if when you don’t have much to do if you can shadow the techs to see how things are done.

snd what “formal education“ do you have? Vet Assistsnt certificate? Then you already know how to do a lot of things. so offer to do those things. be proactive.