Jamie Rauscher wears several hats: licensed veterinary technician at a 24/7 general and emergency practice, the hospital’s medical manager and part owner, the vice president of the Georgia Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association, and the current president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. In addition to her 28 years of engagement in the veterinary community, she loves spending time with her husband, son and a few pets.
1. How did you get started in veterinary medicine?
When I was in high school, I worked in a kennel in a general practice. I moved into an assistant position with some reception duties. Initially, I thought I wanted to go to vet school and then realized that maybe it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
2. Georgia permits non-veterinarian ownership of a practice. How did you do it?
I left one practice and went to another general practice. While there, I picked up some ER shifts and met my current practice partner. She was opening a practice and wanted one where technicians could fully use their skills and license. Even though that was 24 years ago, we were already having conversations about utilizing technicians.
3. What’s the first thing you do in the morning?
I have a golden retriever and four cats, and one of the cats, Yoda, sleeps in the bed with me and my husband. I get up and make a cup of coffee while Yoda trails along, waiting for his treats. Then I move into getting things going for my day,
4. What does a typical day in your hospital look like?
Before I get to the practice, I check my email and figure out what’s happening in my life. Am I working in the practice today or, for instance, am I speaking at our veterinary medical association on tech utilization tomorrow and need to get something together for that? Or if I’m at the clinic, am I on the floor or is it an office day? We have some managers who are non-medical, and their goal is to work with our reception, boarding and grooming teams. So, managing the medical side is the hat I wear in practice.
5. What about your pets?
They are my passion. Sadie, my golden, was signed over to our clinic eight years ago, and she was once a blood donor. She goes to schools with me to talk to kids about animals. Also, I have a Sphynx who is probably one of the most unique pets I’ve ever had. Having a Sphynx is like living with a little naked old man who tries to get in the trash can all the time.
6. Any favorite clothes?
I love wearing the Sphynx shirt that one of my staff members made for me. I also love wearing oversized sweatshirts and fuzzy socks.
7. What kind of music do you enjoy?
If I am in my car by myself, I play ’90s country because that is what I grew up with. If I am with my husband, it’s ’80s big-hair bands because that’s what he grew up with. And if it’s my son, it is a mixture of ’80s big-hair bands with a little bit of late ’70s. At my clinic, we have an Echo in the treatment area, and whoever is in patient care that day picks whatever music is happening.
8. What do you binge-watch on TV?
“Suits.” I am very excited because another season might come out.
9. What are your favorite non-work books?
I love a good murder mystery. I love a little bit of science fiction, but not a lot.
10. What about veterinary books?
I love the new books that talk about hospitality and customer service. I have shelves and shelves of books in my office that are open to my staff to borrow. They’re on different topics — from anesthesia to customer service to emergency and critical care to hospice care.
11. How do you relax?
Nothing helps me more than a glass of wine and a hot bubble bath.
12. What is your professional passion?
I decided to pursue my technician certification in euthanasia and hospice care. As sad as the situations are, I love helping clients with what they’re going through with their pets.
13. How do you define leadership?
I never would have developed into the leader I am without my team to support me. A leader is not one person who’s risen above and feels like they can conquer anything. A leader is someone who’s been put in that position by their team, whether they are co-workers or family.
14. What is one thing you learned recently?
A few weeks ago, I learned it’s OK to let go of some of my current responsibilities and not lose the value I see in myself.
15. How do you end your workday?
Some days, I may be in the practice until 9:30, 10 or 10:30 at night because something’s happening. Or maybe a patient came in and needs a more experienced veterinary technician to do anesthesia or something like that. When possible, I may pop in a room to see a client to say hello. Then I’m going to try my best to get out early so I can go home. When I’m off, I’m off-off, and my goal is not to go back to my practice.
16. What else do you do at home?
I try to catch up on projects. I’m working with my son on remodeling my closet. My parents live locally, and I pop in and see them a day or two a week just to make sure things are going well.
17. How do you practice self-care?
Unfortunately, I have always been perceived as that person who is good to go — “They have it together. It’s fine, Jamie can make it happen.” And so as time has gone on, it’s been more of a challenge. Now I’m more intentional about caring for myself. I’ll try to sleep in. I’ll read in bed. Sometimes, even at 8 o’clock in the morning, I’ll run a bath and take that time to read and kind of decompress.
18. How do you practice self-compassion?
I am still learning to take care of myself. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. I think it’s knowing that I am just as human as anyone else and that to ask for help or put up boundaries should be no different for me than it would be for any other staff member.
19. Anything else?
Forgiving yourself and knowing that you are just a human being is huge. I’m constantly working on that.
20. What are your goals for the year?
I am going to truly focus on what I feel is my purpose in vet med. I am going to start taking on clients in my practice for hospice and palliative care consults and end-of-life planning. Another goal of mine is to help our experienced veterinary professionals see the superheroes that they are by positively influencing the up-and-coming people in our profession. We should help the next generation of technicians and assistants.