BURN OUT, BuRn OuT, burn out…

So fried, burnt, emotionally, physically, too many hours, no lunch or break breaks…working, running, working, running, so tired. Thermometer in, thermometer out, scratches,  non-penetrating bites, co-workers, DVM’s on HANGRY  alert.

Working four days in a row through the weekend wears out all the joints en mi cuerpo-, the joints in my legs, my arms and even my brain, down through the toes and fingers.

But…

It is over.

The drama, the cut throat, the head tech (Nurse Ratched) and most importantly, the irresponsibility concerning the completion of my school work tasks  solidified the decision to resign. Lesson #1-get everything in writing!

The other place is over.

I will miss working with two of the most amazing vet doctors who questioned everything, researched, researched, talked and then researched. They are the role models of what this field should represent (at least in my perception) Academic stagnancy does not go hand in hand with proper diagnoses, a  valuable lesson picked up from Dr S at the clinic.

So…

What is next?

Not sure. Researching, inquiring, investigating and interviewing.

Shelter?   No.

Rescue work?  No. 

Kill shelter?   NO.

Emergency?  NO. NO. NO.

I’ll be returning to the clinic on Saturdays as well as more fill in days and riding the roller coaster of interviews, research, inquiry and investigation.

Never leave the old for the new…Lesson #2-Learnt.

Fostering two feral kittens found in a colony and brought in to the other place.  Biggie and Faith (yep-say their names…) are no longer feral.  Mother was trapped but euthanized at another facility so they are orphans.

They are going through the ‘crazy kitten’ stage with playing, climbing, mewing and acting like jungle cats.

Biggie

Faith

Jungle Cats!

Busy with the business of busyness…

It has been a while and excuses I can give for not blogging…

But I won’t.

Busy, Busy, Busy and yet throughout the business of busyness my muchness has shriveled up and is tucked inside mi alma, seeking refuge and trying to refuel as the business of busyness continues to grow and overwhelms my mind, my body but not my soul which is mi alma.

I still love the animals and strive to be the best technician who looks after them. People in this field annoy me and always will. Motives are weird and I wonder at times if making money is more important than actually practicing medicine. Or does the paying client with the scheduled appointment have preference over a stray cat hit by a car and left to suffer in a cage as the paying client’s needs were met?

And later, about an hour later, he was finally put to sleep, as his injuries were too horrendous.

Yep…the loving feeling is diminishing.

But, only with those who I must work with.

Not the animals.

Never the animals.

And…

I will not cave in to compassion fatigue.

Every life that draws breath on this planet (yes, even the mosquitoes) have a right to life and if I am in the presence of a life passing on and my tears need to flow-flow they will ( um-except for the mosquitoes).

No one has the right or the power to control the emotions of another.

Pix time!

Blood smears-working on school tasks for Clinical Pathology

More stuff for class

Winnie getting bigger and older

X-ray from the other place-Can you guess what this is?

EKG monitoring during a dental procedure

In between dental procedures

Babes in the woods…

Babes in the woods

Although I am far from what society would deem a “babe”, figuratively and literally, I am an “ older newbie” working at a veterinary practice, where except for the owner, I could possibly be a mother to some of the peeps I work with.

The younger casts of co-worker characters range in ages from the twenties to thirties and each interaction with them is different-the jokes, the taste in music and even the attraction to the Poland Springs delivery guy, but I truly respect their experiences and have learned tremendously from them.

I entered this working environment without the condescending attitude of, ‘I’m older and have far more life experience than you’ but rather the, ‘Yeah, I’ve been there, done that in all other areas of life except the veterinary field and I’m gonna sit tight and absorbed what you have to share attitude’. So far, it works and when the conversations turn to stuff I’m not interested in or way too old to be interested in, I venture down to the basement and load up the washer with the endless supply of dirty towels in need of washing.

My courses are going or rather I’m struggling towards completing them. I’m enjoying Vett 111-Veterinary Nursing Care I, as the course is in alignment with what I am encountering and administering, care wise, during my shifts. Vett 114- Pharmacology and Medical Therapeutics I, has broaden my understanding of drugs, protocols in disbursements and why one particular drug has four to five different names and most importantly why I should stop throwing my hands up in the air when the vets use these various names for the same drug.

I get it: Valium-Diazapam. Registered name vs trade mark vs generic.

The one course, I wish I could ignore and have it go away, but it will not, as it is a REQUIREMENT, is Vett-116 Diagnostic Imaging I.

Of course, radiology is a major component of veterinary medicine but having to understand outdated instrumentation and operation is beyond belief. It’s akin to a photographer having to learn film developing and exposures times with a light meter while using a manual camera when the world operates on a digital, scan and photoshop technology. (Yes, I was a photographer back in the day when the words developer, stop and fixer meant something)

I do get it.

Sort of.

In order to truly appreciate and understand the new, having background knowledge in the old is invaluable. Machinery components do not always operate in a precise manner and knowing how to calibrate kVp’s using Sante’s rule can be invaluable.

Cannot wait for Diagnostic Imaging II (NOT!)

Anyway, some photos:

Dental surgery on a bulldog

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This is Tara-Habby who was up for adoption but was adopted by me!!! Spent allot of time socializing her and giving meds for roundworms so this union was inevitable.

The Clinic

The Clinic

The Clinic is a three-doctor practice on the ground level floor of a limestone building. The clinic also has a basement area where boarders are kept and contains a grooming area for the groomer who works three days a week. Washer and dryer as well as storage are in the basement as well as ‘the morgue’-the freezer for the remains awaiting transport to cremation or labs.

There are two surgery rooms, lab and testing area, pharmacy area, medical boarding kennels as well as two examination rooms and the waiting reception area. At times, the space can be cramped with vet techs, doctors and the resident animals rushing from area to area.

The resident animals

Libby is a tabby cat who was found outside the clinic apparently hit by a car. She has only one eye, cannot relieve herself and must be expressed three times a day. ‘Expressed’ is applying pressure to her bladder for urine to be released as well as feces. She also receives fluids on a daily basis as well as medication. I am not sure of her age but judging from her anger response to receiving fluids and expression, her meow and hiss are definitely worse than the attempts at scratching.

The Senator is a brown Chihuahua who has an allergic reaction of the barking and biting kind for males and people of colour. My first introduction with the Senator resulted in bite marks on my brand new Dansko clogs. He is not nice and unfortunately may spend his days at the clinic as his adoptability is on the very low side. Found with his bed tied to a fire hydrant, he was probably abused by a male of colour.
Stray and abandon cats are welcome at the clinic and receive a full medical check-up prior to adoption and show cased in a giant crate in the reception area.

My Status

I shadowed at the clinic for month of Sundays before my hiring on August 1. I work Sundays only with occasional fill in days. It’s been an exciting journey thus far. I have witnessed three euthanasia’s, one surgery and held a dog as he drew his last breath. I learned to give fluids, subcutaneous injections and cat and dog restraint. I prefer restraining dogs, as there is only the mouth to be weary off whereas a cat has five points of weapons. I’ve been scratched, bled on, peed on, screamed on, bit on…this can continue but it stops here.

Following are some pix’s…

The dishes we wash…

Libby, the ‘expressive’ one…

The Senator…

The Morgue…

Regular borders…