For those of you who have volunteered at a clinic...

[ami21]

I'm just wondering what were you allowed to do while volunteering or working? I know a lot of clinics I've been to wouldn't even consider a volunteer because of insurance issues. I don't know, but I feel like I'm not really get hands on experience, I'm more so just observing and occasionally holding. I'm just wondering what other's experience has included and if I should look at getting into another clinic?

[246]

May 2, 2019 18:03:35 GMT -5 ami21 said:

I'm just wondering what were you allowed to do while volunteering or working? I know a lot of clinics I've been to wouldn't even consider a volunteer because of insurance issues. I don't know, but I feel like I'm not really get hands on experience, I'm more so just observing and occasionally holding. I'm just wondering what other's experience has included and if I should look at getting into another clinic?

Honestly, it shouldn't be expected that clinics let you do a lot just because it is a huge risk as anyone would understand. That being said, I have bounced around. I began volunteering at a clinic that let me do an initial exam on any animal that came through (then the vet would do another), monitoring surgeries, etc it was very hands on. Obviously this is a lot to expect from any clinic but when I started volunteering at other clinics, I held them to a standard. Cleaning and occasionally holding is great to get your foot in the door but I needed a reference and I jumped around quite a bit until I found another that let me get involved almost to the extent that my other one did. It's a bit of work but once you find them, It really is a great experience. 

[246]

And I forgot to add, in my experience the hands-on comes mostly with single-doctor small clinics. It's very easy to get lost in a large clinic with multiple doctors and staff (been there, done that haha)

[em]

There are many factors that influence how involved a clinic will allow a volunteer to become. If you're relatively new, keep in mind that they don't know you well and aren't sure of what you know, what you're able to handle, etc. and so it takes time for them to be able to trust you to, for example, properly restrain an animal for a blood draw. They also don't want you to get hurt if there is a fractious animal. A lot of clinics will have you start off cleaning, watching, and doing an easy animal restraint here and there, and I think that's quite normal. The more interest and dedication you show, the more likely they are to teach you and allow you to do more.

I started working in clinics as a high school student and it always started as cleaning and observing. Now that I have years of experience, the vets are teaching me way more technical skills. They now have me doing blood draws, inserting IV catheters, intubating (all supervised of course and they double check) and they have me scrub in with some surgeries and even let me put in skin sutures. I've worked at this clinic for several years already and have a good relationship with the vets. They see all of these moments as teaching opportunities and I make sure they know I am beyond grateful that they are willing to take the time to show and teach me how to do these when they could finish the task more quickly on their own. They're not going to waste their time if a student doesn't show dedication, interest, and appreciation in what they're doing - and this will reflect on the reference they give you if you ask them to write yours.

You might get lucky by hopping around different clinics, you may find one that is a bit short staffed or smaller and can use the extra hand, but I wouldn't necessarily give up on the clinic you're at now, especially if you haven't been volunteering with them for long. You can try inserting yourself more by asking questions (when appropriate of course), asking about what the staff is doing, why they're doing what they're doing so you can get a better understanding, and how you can better help them out.

[Otter]

I was in a similar boat as you while volunteering (I spent 2 full summers volunteering at 2 different SA clinics). Mostly cleaning up and occasionally holding or watching surgeries. Try to just ask as many questions as possible and get involved when you can, but don't stress out too much about not having much to do because in a majority of clinics volunteers are limited in what they are allowed to do.

I just finished phase 1 and I was really surprised about the range of hands on experience everyone had prior to getting in. Some people have a ton in various different fields and some with relatively none. You'll get a lot of experience in vet school so don't worry too much!