Whether you’re still in training and preparing to start your internship, or you’re off to your very first day as a full-fledged veterinary technician, you might be feeling proud of yourself, excited to take this step – and probably a little anxious!
You should feel proud of yourself, you should feel excited for this moment and, luckily, you should even feel a little nervous!
This is a big deal, after all, and it shows that you care about it!
Because of that, though, your brain may start to make a big deal of the potential threats that could ruin it as well.
And as natural as this is, you certainly don’t want to let it get the best of you.
So along with absorbing these tips, it may help to ask yourself if there is something specific that is subconsciously making you more jittery than you should be, and address it! For example:
You WILL Have a Good Start to the Day
Do you have a history with morning madness? There’s a chance you may be subconsciously worried that on this important day, you will wake up and it will be “one of those days.”
But it doesn’t have to be!
Minimizing any last-minute mistakes and making your morning as perfect as possible will be a major help and will ensure that by the time you pull on your best veterinary scrubs for your first day, you’re ready to BE your best for your first day.
You’ll want to consider doing things like running through your morning routine to decide what you’ll eat for breakfast and pack for lunch (making sure you have the necessary groceries) and laying out your scrubs, shoes, and supplies.
Also, remember to set your alarm early to allow yourself extra time in the morning, review your route by driving your commute beforehand (if possible on the same day and at the same time as your shift) and get an understanding of the parking lot.
You WILL Do Well
Your first day as a vet tech may feel a lot like a test where you have no idea what will be on it. But don’t start doubting yourself now!
You’ve done well enough to make it this far.
If there are certain things that you’re concerned about remembering, some simple review in the days leading up to your start date should do the trick as a refresher, a confidence boost and an anxiety reliever.
As well as you’ll undoubtedly do, though…
You WON’T Be Expected to Be Perfect
Nobody expects you to know it all on your first day, and nobody expects you to learn it all on your first day.
Not only are we all only human, but every practice has different best practices.
You may very well find yourself in an environment that functions or feels far different from what you’ve learned or experienced in school, or in other practices.
This is not abnormal, so it only makes sense that there would be a natural learning period!
Observe, ask questions and act when you can.
Keeping a small notebook on you when you observe and ask is always recommended, as well – not only for your observations and acquired answers, but for the copious username-password combinations and codes you’ll likely receive.
Extra Tips for Surviving Slaying Your First-Day Jitters
You’ve addressed any underlying stressors and you’re still feeling a little jittery.
We know! We’re sorry that it wasn’t a fix-all and we do have a couple more tricks up our sleeves to help calm your remaining anxiety as much as possible.
- Learn How to Exist: You’re going to be on your feet a lot as a vet tech, and while it may seem silly, it’s a good idea to make sure that this simple task is executed properly to avoid significant consequences. This goes for your breathing, too! Especially when the situations you find yourself in are prone to causing nausea or fainting in new techs, you don’t want to add to the odds by holding your breath or locking your knees. Many new vet techs report fainting due to these reasons, but simple solutions like counting your breaths and paying attention to bending your knees can help!
- Invest in Quality Supplies and Equipment: Non-slip shoes for your first veterinary shift are a must, and you’ll want to make sure that they are truly non-slip. And just as with the rest of your supplies and equipment, it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile and invest in specialty features when you’re working with such unpredictable and primal patients! For instance, even though non-slip is the goal, your footwear could also benefit from features like enhanced durability, non-stain and anti-odor.
- Recalibrate: Before you enter the building, it’s a good idea to prep yourself mentally for what you’ll experience in order to avoid any shock. You’re likely amped up and anxious for your first day, and you’re probably thinking about what your new environment will be like, what your new work family will be like, what animals you’ll meet and more – and you may have forgotten to prepare for the urine, feces, blood, other bodily excretions and nasty situations that may also arise. It’s important not to romanticize the role too much and remember that you will often be operating under heightened levels of adrenaline and stress. A lack of mental prep may be more than jarring. If you do start feeling nauseated or lightheaded by these factors, though, wiggling your toes is a subtle but useful tactic to combat it!
- Take Your Breaks as They Come: Stories of people fainting or feeling weak and performing poorly thanks to self-neglect and trying to power through to show their new colleagues how much they can do are fairly common. Instead of becoming one of these stories, show your colleagues that you are responsible enough to care for yourself by taking your breaks, packing a good meal to keep you going and sipping water often – even if only to better serve your patients and assist your colleagues! Even if you’re only observing and don’t feel like you’ve done much over the course of the day, being a vet tech in any capacity is mentally and physically draining and demands additional hydration and healthy snackage.
- Look Good, Feel Good: Finding the perfect hairstyle, undergarments, scrubs and shoes will help you feel confident and good about your professional image (and first impressions). You can also feel great knowing that your Healing Hands scrubs are the best quality and are going to hold up while you’re using your own healing hands to tend to unpredictable animals.
Welcome Home!
Make yourself at home and get comfortable, be friendly to everyone on the team – from veterinarians to kennel assistants – and allow yourself to become a part of the team.
Most of all, channel your anxiety into excitement and allow enjoyment back into the experience!