Battle Ground, Ind. (October, 2002) — National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Inc. (NAVTA) has proclaimed October 13-19, 2002, as National Veterinary Technician Week. Established in 1993, the event is celebrated annually to recognize veterinary technicians nationwide for their contributions as members of the veterinary health care team.
National Veterinary Technician Week provides veterinary technicians the opportunity to promote their profession to the public and colleagues. This year’s theme, “Recognizing Veterinary Technicians…the heart of animal health care,” will focus on sharing the ways veterinary technicians contribute to the veterinary profession. Veterinary technicians work closely with veterinarians and other members of the veterinary team to deliver quality animal health care. Primary responsibilities in a veterinary practice involve animal nursing, administering medications, assisting in surgery, taking radiographs, inducing and monitoring of anesthesia, hospital management and laboratory duties. Veterinary technicians are also employed in biomedical research, military, sales, industry, education and veterinary toxicology.
Veterinary technicians, students and veterinary clinics across the country will observe National Veterinary Technician Week with a variety of events, such as community events like animal walks and pet contests, luncheons or banquets, and public speaking engagements where veterinary technicians can share information about their profession with local veterinary medical associations, students and pet owners.
This year, NAVTA is celebrating the launch of its premier issue of the NAVTA Journal, a quarterly publication that is the first of its kind to provide support to the growing field of veterinary technology. The first issue will be published in December, 2002.
“The journal will provide continuing education units as well as national, state and local news important to the networking of veterinary technicians across the nation, “ said Patrick Navarre, executive director of NAVTA. “As a national organization, we felt the time was right to provide a special membership benefit for our members.”
Veterinary technology is a profession that is in high demand. Today’s veterinary technicians are graduates of accredited programs who have undergone rigorous training courses to ensure they can provide the best care possible to the animals in their care. Because veterinary technicians perform many of the functions in a veterinary practice, without them, veterinarians would be unable to care for as many patients as they do.
Lisa Chase, president of NAVTA, says, “This is the week we honor all our staff members and the contribution they make to the hospital. The veterinary technicians get taken out to dinner and our assistants get recognized as well for the support they give the technicians. It’s a real celebratory atmosphere.”
NAVTA is a nonprofit organization that represents and promotes the profession of Veterinary Technology. NAVTA provides direction, education, support and coordination for its members, and works with other allied professional organizations for the competent care and humane treatment of animals. Incorporated in 1981, NAVTA is the national organization devoted exclusively to developing and enhancing the profession of veterinary technology.
More information about NAVTA can be obtained from the web site www.navta.net.