National Veterinary Technician Week — celebrated this year Oct. 13-19 — provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of veterinary technicians. To celebrate, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) is providing an online toolkit with sample press releases and public service announcements, presentation and event ideas, and more, thanks to sponsorship from Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
“Veterinary technicians and nurses out there are the lifeblood of veterinary practices. Without these crucial team members, veterinarians would not be able to fully do their job,” said Erin Spencer, NAVTA president, in a statement. “Veterinary technicians and nurses turn a veterinarian’s orders into treatment and care for patients. Their work is often overlooked and undervalued. NAVTA would like to thank all of the veterinary technicians and nurses around the world for their significant contributions to the practice of veterinary medicine.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supports veterinary technicians through a partnership with NAVTA. In June 2019, AVMA also convened a Task Force on Technician Utilization that is developing a comprehensive plan to improve technician usage, looking at issues like financial and career sustainability, task delegation, and the well-being of both technicians and practices.
“We’re enthusiastic about the opportunities to improve technician utilization in the profession, and eager to share progress in this area,” said AVMA President John Howe in a statement. “Optimizing technician utilization can have a powerful impact on both a practice’s bottom line and the satisfaction of the whole veterinary team.”
The AVMA is offering free, downloadable social media images.
According to NAVTA, the main goals of the event are to educate the public about these vital members of the veterinary medical team, reinforce the value and professionalism of veterinary technicians, provide an opportunity to recognize them for excellent performance in their work, and acknowledge veterinarians for hiring credentialed veterinary technicians. After a resolution was passed by NAVTA, National Veterinary Technician Week was first celebrated in 1993. It takes place in the third week of October each year.
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