Future Opportunities for Veterinary Technician Career - Research Paper Example

Future opportunities for Veterinary Technician career Future opportunities for Veterinary Technician career Veterinary Technician undertakes clinical work to pets and other animals. They undertake medical test in animals and treats the medical conditions those animals may have, while operating under the supervision of a registered Veterinarian (NAVTA, 2002).Veterinary Technician performs many duties for a veterinarian, as does a nurse for a physician (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Their duties include carrying out laboratory and other diagnostic test, such as urinalysis, blood sugar tests and taking blood counts. The technicians develop health histories of animals, analyses them, carries out radiographs and X-rays and accords animals some specialized nursing care, treatment and vaccination. Although many specialize in either small or big animal care, some can work in a mixed environment where they care for small pets and for bigger nondomestic animals (Deobrah, (n.d)). Although this work can be demanding both physically and emotionally, and although working with animals is sometimes dangerous, the future of the Veterinary Technician career is promising. People who love animals happen to derive a great deal of satisfaction from this job. Owing to the fact that the tendency to love and keep pets is generally increasing in the world, employment in Veterinary Technician career is expected to grow at a much higher rate than the average (NAVTA, 2002). With the increase in establishment of Zoos and Aquariums, job opportunities are expected to increase and the demand for Veterinary Technician is expected to rise. All this notwithstanding, engagement in Veterinary Technician career, is set to open so many opportunities in the future. With the growth in technology related to all facets of life, research work has become more and more relevant in the modern society. In the future, Veterinary Technician career is going to venture more and more into research work, working in research facilities, where the technicians prepare samples for laboratory tests, offers medications to animals and record histories of the animals, regarding their health, weight, diet, genealogy and clinical medication history (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Most significant is the role of the Veterinary Technician in contributing not only to animal heath but also to human health. Veterinary Technician works closely with other medical experts in the research fields, to come up with new inventions that can help improve not only the medical conditions of animals but even that of humans (Veterinary Technician, 2006). While working under laboratory test such as animal cloning, the Veterinary Technicians has helped come up with ways in which the same can be done for humans. Since some pilot studies cannot be undertaken in humans, while the medical experts want to experiment and observe new inventions for treatment and human life improvement, they have to depend on the Veterinary Technicians to administer these experiments on pets and other animals (NAVTA, 2002). If such medical experimentations prove successful with animals, then the same can now be tried with humans. Thus, a Veterinary Technician career is significant not only in supporting animal health but also in promoting human health. With the need to come up with new solutions to various human medical conditions, the role of the technicians is inevitably at the core of such experiments (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Human health aside, another opportunity open to Veterinary Technician career in the future is in the field of biomedical research. This refers to the basic and applied research to aid and add to the body of knowledge in the medical field (Deobrah, (n.d)). This may entail doing research on biochemistry, microbiology, physiology and surgery. Due to the knowledge base of the veterinary technicians pertaining to animal health conditions, their input in the field of biomedical research is significant. This is because; their knowledge will be applied to research disease and health conditions in animals, including their treatment and prevention. These outcomes will then be inferred to the human population, to treat and prevent similar health conditions and diseases (MML, FMG &FH, 2009). Since biomedical research entails surgical experiments, the role of the veterinary technician is pivotal, in undertaking such surgeries in animals. If they prove to be successful, the same can then be undertaken to the humans. Therefore, the role of the technicians in contributing to the body of knowledge is significant. Since they work closely with the animals, according them nursing care and treatment, their knowledge on care and treatment is desirable, since it can be used to develop new methodologies of providing nursing care and treatment to patients (BLS, 2010). Therefore, there is a possibility of diversification of career for the veterinary technicians from their normal animal health care to the field of biomedical research in the future (NAVTA, 2002). Wildlife medicine is yet another opportunity that presents itself to veterinary technicians in the future. It entails all aspects of conservation medicine (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Under this field, the technicians will be involved in wildlife practices such as animal restraint, wildlife monitoring, administration of drugs to the wild animals and their placement of catheters. Undertaking minor surgeries to wild animals with injuries or surgical health conditions is another role that the technicians will play (MML, FMG &FH, 2009). Wildlife conservation has become a priority in almost all countries of the world. This is because; with the environmental changes witnessed lately the world over, coupled with shortage of resources for human life support, wildlife has turned out to be the target for humans. Poaching of wild animals both for food and sale of their body parts has been on the rise, threatening the survival of some animal species on earth (NAVTA, 2002). Preservation of wildlife has therefore become inevitable, with more establishments of parks, conservancies and Zoos the world over. This need to preserve the animals calls for more labor force to be indulged. No wonder therefore, opportunities for technicians are open to this field. Their knowledge of handling animals, according them nursing care and treatment has become important in the field of wildlife medicine and wildlife conservation. Therefore, there is an opportunity in the future for the veterinary technicians to diversify their career to the field of wildlife medicine and wildlife conservation (Veterinary Technician, 2006). This is move is meant to support care and conservation of wild animals. Obtaining a future career as a Veterinary Technician can open opportunities for the technicians to work under the field of livestock management. The knowledge and skills possessed by the technicians are desirable for livestock management (Deobrah, (n.d)). Since the technicians are well acquitted to providing nursing care and treatment to animals, notably pets, their expertise becomes important in the field of livestock management, since they will offer the required assistance in caring and treating livestock. Besides according health care to livestock, the technicians are a valuable resource in livestock practices such as animal cloning, livestock husbandry and livestock production (NAVTA, 2002). Their extensive animal knowledge comes in handy to support livestock practices such as breeding, where they are in a position to establish the right varieties of livestock that should be bred to give rise to desired livestock breeds. Their knowledge of the animal health conditions and treatment practices is also vital for livestock care and management. Their ability to perform minor surgical operations to animals is necessary to help in livestock treatment of injuries (LaVallee, (n.d)). Since the technicians are well versed wit animal diet and nutrition issues, their knowledge is important in assisting the farmers and livestock owners accord the right feeds to their animals. Their knowledge of animal behavior is relevant in livestock management, since it will help them identify the signs of ill health just before the animals are affected to critical stages. Identification of signs of pain and depression is vital for effective livestock disease prevention and cure (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Veterinary technician’s career in the future will obtain an opportunity in pharmaceutical sales. This is so because, the knowledge they posses in animal medicine and drugs is desirable for pharmaceutical sales. Any dealer in drugs and medicines is required to have ample knowledge on the products they sell. This is because; failure to accord the right drug to a particular illness or giving the wrong prescription for a certain drug is likely to have lethal impacts on the health of both humans and animals (LaVallee, (n.d)). Therefore, the knowledge possessed by the technicians is of great use in pharmaceutical sales in order to indentify which drug or medicine is appropriate for which illness. The knowledge in nursing care and treatment of animals will be useful to enable them give the right prescription to the buyers who may want to use the medicines on their animals, yet they do not have such treatment knowledge (NAVTA, 2002). With the information given by customers on the symptoms of the illnesses portrayed by the animals, the technicians are able to deduce the infection that the animals have and accord the right advice to the animal owners on how they should treat their animals. Therefore, the Veterinary technician career is likely to open so many opportunities in the future, diversifying their area of specialization to other fields that requires their knowledge. This indicates that there are expansive job opportunities that the career presents. All these opportunities are in need of the knowledge and skills possessed by the technicians. Works Cited Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, (2010)- 11 Edition, Veterinary Technologists and Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos183.htm(visited February 15, 2012). Deobrah Flake, V. (n.d). Veterinary team has important role. The Evening Sun. LaVallee, A. (n.d). CAREERS; Animal magnetism; Veterinary technicians have little trouble finding niche. The Patriot Ledger. McIntyre Media Ltd., Films Media Group, & Films for the Humanities (Firm). (2009). Top careers in two years: Health care, medicine, and science. Orangeville, Ont: Distributed by McIntyre Media. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. (2002). The NAVTA journal. Battle Ground, IN: NAVTA. Veterinary Technician. (2006). Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 81(4), 45-46. Read More