Professionalism: Professionalism: You at Your Best! You at Your Best! Supporting Quality Veterinary Care Denise Mikita, MS, CVT Executive Director
Mar 26, 2015
Professionalism:Professionalism:You at Your Best!You at Your Best!
Supporting Quality Veterinary Care
Denise Mikita, MS, CVT
Executive Director
OverviewOverview
SuccessSuccess
ProfessionalismProfessionalism
SalariesSalaries
Obstacles and Advancing your careerObstacles and Advancing your career
Enhancing your own careerEnhancing your own career
Veterinary Technician OathVeterinary Technician Oath
SuccessSuccess
Define SuccessDefine Success
Your personal definitionYour personal definition
Are you trustworthy?Are you trustworthy?
What is your integrity?What is your integrity? Define your boundaries and don’t cross themDefine your boundaries and don’t cross them
ProfessionalismProfessionalism
1. First impressions1. First impressions
2. Behavior2. Behavior
3. E-mail / phone3. E-mail / phone
4. Dress for success4. Dress for success
5. Attitude5. Attitude
1. First Impressions1. First Impressions
You never get a second You never get a second chance at first chance at first impressions.impressions.
First ImpressionsFirst Impressions
You’re making a first impression every day You’re making a first impression every day – every time you meet a new client or a – every time you meet a new client or a new person.new person.
It’s not about the ability to It’s not about the ability to
express yourself, it’s aboutexpress yourself, it’s about
the impression that youthe impression that you
give to others as agive to others as a
professional.professional.
2. Behavior2. Behavior
The CACVT office has received some The CACVT office has received some complaints about certain inappropriate complaints about certain inappropriate behavior. One example is of an employee behavior. One example is of an employee who just didn’t show up for work one day who just didn’t show up for work one day (no medical problems or accidents).(no medical problems or accidents).
Calls about people not showing up for Calls about people not showing up for scheduled interviews.scheduled interviews.
Small community – news travels.Small community – news travels.
Good Behaviors?Good Behaviors?
Timely (ideally is to show up early)Timely (ideally is to show up early)ReliableReliableHonestHonestRespect: co-workers, clients, Respect: co-workers, clients, yourselfyourselfCaring – for animals and peopleCaring – for animals and people
Identify them and live by them – because they Identify them and live by them – because they are yours and yours alone.are yours and yours alone.
3. Bad E-mail Habits3. Bad E-mail Habits
What message are you sending?What message are you sending?
With a society of text messaging and high With a society of text messaging and high speed communication, make sure your speed communication, make sure your fast impression isn’t a bad impression.fast impression isn’t a bad impression.
Actual e-mail received in officeActual e-mail received in office
Hey XXX, Hey XXX, It is XXX {person's name who wrote this} and i spoke to It is XXX {person's name who wrote this} and i spoke to
XXX about XYZ {a veterinary clinic} and she told me i XXX about XYZ {a veterinary clinic} and she told me i have been accepted so i just wanted to let you know that have been accepted so i just wanted to let you know that i feel better being there because it is closer to home and i feel better being there because it is closer to home and i do not have to relocate and so i want to let you know i do not have to relocate and so i want to let you know that XXX emailed me some concerns and i believe that that XXX emailed me some concerns and i believe that she was more concerned that i might not relocate due to she was more concerned that i might not relocate due to my situation saying i am not professional enough. The my situation saying i am not professional enough. The only thing i can say is that i do not plan to stay in only thing i can say is that i do not plan to stay in Colorado and want to make my internship fun and have Colorado and want to make my internship fun and have a great time learning the trade of a Veterinary a great time learning the trade of a Veterinary Technician.Technician.
E-mail / Phone TipsE-mail / Phone Tips
There are actual seminars being given on There are actual seminars being given on e-mailing e-mailing (e.g., www.CareerTrack.com)(e.g., www.CareerTrack.com)
CACVT Newsletter (pg 5, Dec. 07 issue)CACVT Newsletter (pg 5, Dec. 07 issue)
Search the Internet for ideas – many sitesSearch the Internet for ideas – many sites(google “phone etiquette” =(google “phone etiquette” = 2,110,000 hits)2,110,000 hits)
4. Dress for Success4. Dress for Success
Clothing is an external indicator of the Clothing is an external indicator of the internal attitude, and should be that of a internal attitude, and should be that of a professional. professional.
Personal AppearancePersonal Appearance
Hygiene Hygiene – look and smell clean (breath mints)– look and smell clean (breath mints)
Clean/non-stained & ironed scrubsClean/non-stained & ironed scrubs keep a change of clothes at work (having a blood keep a change of clothes at work (having a blood
stain or fecal matter on your scrubs is not a status stain or fecal matter on your scrubs is not a status symbol, it’s just sloppy)symbol, it’s just sloppy)
Roller brush (in the back) to remove animal hair Roller brush (in the back) to remove animal hair before going into the next exam roombefore going into the next exam room
Minimal jewelry / piercing / make-upMinimal jewelry / piercing / make-up What is cool to you, may or What is cool to you, may or
may not be cool to someone else. may not be cool to someone else.
Nail careNail care
5. Attitude5. Attitude
Have you identified it? Have you identified it? Are you able to recognize your personal bad Are you able to recognize your personal bad attitude and change it?attitude and change it?Avoid Career Landmines.Avoid Career Landmines. Rumor millsRumor mills Boss/co-worker badmouthingBoss/co-worker badmouthing Attitude – mood swingsAttitude – mood swings
Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution Interpreting and handling conflictInterpreting and handling conflict Conflict checklist www.crnhq.org/freechecklist.htmlConflict checklist www.crnhq.org/freechecklist.html
Attitude is everything.Attitude is everything.
Representing the ProfessionRepresenting the Profession
You are not just promoting yourself, you You are not just promoting yourself, you are representing the entire veterinary are representing the entire veterinary technology profession.technology profession.
You are representing me!You are representing me!
Have a good professional reputationHave a good professional reputation Skills, Attitude, Dress, Proactive, Demeanor!Skills, Attitude, Dress, Proactive, Demeanor!
Phil’s Technician PhilosophyPhil’s Technician Philosophy
As a Veterinary Technician, I promise to:As a Veterinary Technician, I promise to: be punctual and reliable.be punctual and reliable. support the decisions that are made for the betterment of the support the decisions that are made for the betterment of the
hospital.hospital. obey the rules of the hospital.obey the rules of the hospital. be supportive of my coworkers and leaders.be supportive of my coworkers and leaders. be honest with the clients, staff and leaders.be honest with the clients, staff and leaders. maintain my professionalism; treating clients, patients, maintain my professionalism; treating clients, patients,
coworkers and leaders with dignity and respect.coworkers and leaders with dignity and respect. be diligent in the performance of my duties and take pride in be diligent in the performance of my duties and take pride in
my work.my work. keep technically proficient and continually strive to improve my keep technically proficient and continually strive to improve my
personal and professional skills.personal and professional skills. be responsible for my own actions.be responsible for my own actions. accept responsibility and use initiative when I can contribute accept responsibility and use initiative when I can contribute
positively.positively.
Phil’s Technician PhilosophyPhil’s Technician Philosophy
From my leaders, I expect:From my leaders, I expect: the opportunity to prove my talents - give me a the opportunity to prove my talents - give me a
chance.chance. to be treated with the dignity and respect that I afford to be treated with the dignity and respect that I afford
others.others. honesty about the practice and my position within it.honesty about the practice and my position within it. recognition for my accomplishments and contributions recognition for my accomplishments and contributions
to the practice.to the practice. a challenging work environment that will make me a challenging work environment that will make me
grow professionally and personally.grow professionally and personally. support and redirection when I make mistakes.support and redirection when I make mistakes. fairness in compensation and responsibilities.fairness in compensation and responsibilities.
SalariesSalaries
Web sites: e.g., Monster.com or Web sites: e.g., Monster.com or salaryexpert.comsalaryexpert.com
Negotiate your wageNegotiate your wage
Reach for more PayReach for more Pay – article in “Firstline – article in “Firstline®®””
#1 Ask for a raise: Do your homework - #1 Ask for a raise: Do your homework - know what is appropriate. know what is appropriate.
Think uniquely: what else do you need to Think uniquely: what else do you need to be happy? Other compensationbe happy? Other compensation
Salaries (cont.)Salaries (cont.)
Think you need a raise?Think you need a raise?
Before you ask for that raise, make sure it's Before you ask for that raise, make sure it's because you deserve it; your performance and because you deserve it; your performance and contributions have exceeded the normal contributions have exceeded the normal expectations. Never ask for a raise because you expectations. Never ask for a raise because you need it - you may be seen as unable to manage need it - you may be seen as unable to manage affairs on a budget or living over your means. affairs on a budget or living over your means. This can sometimes hurt your credibility in the This can sometimes hurt your credibility in the eyes of others.eyes of others.
~ Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT, www.safetyvet.com~ Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT, www.safetyvet.com
Salaries (cont.)Salaries (cont.)
Before you can ask for anything….Before you can ask for anything….
You need to have confidence to show you You need to have confidence to show you deserve what you're asking for in the first deserve what you're asking for in the first place. You have to constantly prove your place. You have to constantly prove your worth.worth.
How do you do this?How do you do this?
Obstacles in your careerObstacles in your careerHow to overcome themHow to overcome them
If you desire long-term success, you’ve got to If you desire long-term success, you’ve got to commit to life-long learning (continuing commit to life-long learning (continuing education)education)Step out of your comfort zone from time to timeStep out of your comfort zone from time to timeSet specific goals (with a time frame) for Set specific goals (with a time frame) for improvement – and work hard to achieve themimprovement – and work hard to achieve themTeach: pass along your knowledge to make Teach: pass along your knowledge to make others better as wellothers better as wellUtilize professional associations – they can only Utilize professional associations – they can only help you if you askhelp you if you ask
Advancing your career –Advancing your career –proving your worthproving your worth
How do you personally bring in more money for How do you personally bring in more money for the clinic?the clinic?
Finding your niche – make yourself Finding your niche – make yourself indispensableindispensable
SpecialtiesSpecialties
Understanding the lawsUnderstanding the laws Understand more than just your jobUnderstand more than just your job Understand how veterinarians are governedUnderstand how veterinarians are governed State Board of Veterinary MedicineState Board of Veterinary Medicine
Future of Veterinary TechnologyFuture of Veterinary Technology
Up to you – individual efforts doUp to you – individual efforts domake a differencemake a difference
Are you by yourself?Are you by yourself?NO!!NO!!
Associations – such as CACVTAssociations – such as CACVTResources – magazines (examples: Veterinary Resources – magazines (examples: Veterinary Technician®, Firstline®, Veterinary Technician®, Firstline®, Veterinary Economics®), CE, Websites (VSPN has a Economics®), CE, Websites (VSPN has a professionalism and ethics class)professionalism and ethics class)
CACVT Enhancement AreasCACVT Enhancement Areas
New Web siteNew Web site Will have opportunities listed where you can Will have opportunities listed where you can
be involved in your professional association.be involved in your professional association. Check underCheck under
““about cacvt”about cacvt” “ “committee areas”committee areas”
CACVT Enhancement AreasCACVT Enhancement Areas
2007 Survey2007 Survey
You can directly enhance the CACVT You can directly enhance the CACVT organization and your profession by filling organization and your profession by filling out the 2007 Surveyout the 2007 Survey
Results available in the “members only” Results available in the “members only” section on the Web sitesection on the Web site
CACVT Enhancement AreasCACVT Enhancement Areas
PR CommitteePR Committee Booth – chance to talk to the Booth – chance to talk to the
community and explain what you community and explain what you dodo
2008 National Veterinary 2008 National Veterinary Technician Week task forceTechnician Week task force
Membership CommitteeMembership Committee Fun upcoming eventFun upcoming event
Office – see “behind the scenes” Office – see “behind the scenes” and understand how the and understand how the association is runassociation is run
ProfessionalismProfessionalism
This is when you are at your best!This is when you are at your best!Step up to the challenge.Step up to the challenge.Understand how you can excel.Understand how you can excel.Educate the community as to what you do Educate the community as to what you do (CACVT PR Committee).(CACVT PR Committee).Represent your profession (veterinary Represent your profession (veterinary technology) in the best possible light every technology) in the best possible light every day. day. It matters to everyone because you It matters to everyone because you represent everyone!represent everyone!
Thank youThank youfor being Professionalfor being Professional
Questions? Or to Questions? Or to receive a PDF copy receive a PDF copy of this presentation of this presentation by e-mail,by e-mail,
please contact me in please contact me in the CACVT Office.the CACVT Office.Denise Mikita, CVTDenise Mikita, [email protected]@cacvt.com
Happy Holiday Season!