From the summer of 2021 to March 2022 I got the opportunity to volunteer at a Private Practice veterinarian. A small clinic in Caguas, Puerto Rico future emergencies. I got to learn some basic medical terminology like: P.O. BID, V/D, etc. I also needed to learn how to read the doctor's writing.
Later on, I started to assist vet techs in attending to and receiving patients and clients. I used for the first time a computer program to save medical records while also writing and updating physical medical records. I got to be at certain moments kind of like a secretary, attending calls and charging clients. Moreover, I got to learn a lot of new restraining techniques for both cats and dogs. I got to identify parasites like ear mites, hookworms, tapeworms, etc. using a microscope.
I also got the opportunity to learn new ways of doing fluid therapy and using specific machines to monitor heartbeats and even the amount of serum drips. I also, learn the differences between isolation and communal hospital. While also cleaning very superficial wounds, cleaning ears, and even applying eye drops to specific patients. I got to use for the first time an x-ray machine, I started to know to read x-rays and the different positions to take an x-ray. I got to see how the doctor perform spayed and castrations. Even assist behind the scene on how to prepare the equipment and the surgery room.
There were days when I didn't do much, but others were very hectic. Some days I couldn't even eat because there was so much going on. And someday we even left early. I can openly say that someday I was very happy and others I just wanted to leave. Since I know for sure that I do not belong somewhere where you are supposed to do the same thing every day. Routines are good but could also be bad. I am not saying that a routine job is the worst, but at least personally I like to constantly adapt and change the environment I am in. I love going out and being in open spaces dealing with nature and the environment. I could not deal with clients who sometimes come screaming and saying that we do this for the money and not for the well-being of their pets. Also, I realized that most veterinarians end up being business owners. Something I have never had aspirations to have. Therefore, the months in which I did volunteer work were amazing. I learn LIKE CRAZY. I gain a lot of customer service experience since many people believe that being a veterinarian you can just work with animals...But I can assure you that some days that is the last thing you are going to be dealing with.
Therefore, in every experience that you have, no matter the time you are there, or even what duties you have ALWAYS keep yourself first. What I mean is, always be aware of how you feel in that place, how people are treating you.. and most importantly if you are actually learning something. Like I have been to places for volunteering where I just didn't learn anything at all. So just don't go for a volunteer position just to have it on your resume or CV. Go out and have fun, but always, always, always make sure that you are learning and that you are being validated and that you matter.
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