It’s all about the animals, but getting to a point where we can care for them requires some additional soft skill training too.
At College for Arts and Technology, veterinary hospital assistant students aren’t only focused on learning to care for animals. They’re also acquiring essential leadership training that will set them apart in the field after graduation as they move into fast-paced, compassionate environments.
Speaking to these essential leadership skills, College for Arts and Technology recently welcomed Brad Pattison (of “At the End of My Leash” fame) who shared his first-hand knowledge with our students.
Additionally, it wasn’t simply theoretical – for a few high-energy hours, the Production Studio of College for Arts and Technology became a simulated veterinary clinic as Veterinary Hospital Assistant (VHA) students role-played their way through a series of challenging interactions!
As the students worked through each simulation, Brad and instructor Kari Lesick provided extensive feedback and real-world examples designed to help them respond effectively in a clinical setting.
Right from the get go, it was evident that this class would be all about helping students get into the right mindset to approach challenges with confidence, as soon-to-be veterinary hospital assistants. At first, some of the students were shy and soft spoken, but as the scenarios played on, the second transformation occurred: the energy in the room skyrocketed and students began to take the lead from Brad and Kari’s examples. Voices got louder. Actions became surer.
“As you work through these scenarios, it’s as much about how you stand and how you move as it is about what you say. Get engaged. Stand up. Feel confident. You’ve got this,” said Brad, as Kari talked to the students about the gamut of emotions they can expect to experience in a clinical setting. “The phone will be ringing off the hook. You will have ten people in line. You will have one thing coming at you after another that you cannot control, and only one thing that you can – and that is how you engage with people,” said Kari, letting this point hang in the air for a moment. “It’s about how you make them feel seen and heard. How you make them feel important. How you are empathetic. Basically, how you respond will set the tone.”
Kari illustrated her own point moments later when burst through the door holding her beloved pooch, Manu, surprising the students with another pretend emergency situation. Fortunately, Manu was quite alright (in fact, he even hammed it up for the crowd), and Kari would go on to do this several times. Each time, with additional guidance from Brad, the students’ responses grew more assertive, more confident, more energized.
The class concluded with Brad and Kari going over a number of effective behavior modification techniques, but the students did not sit idle. Brad went around the table inviting each student to provide their thoughts and challenging the group as a whole to come up with solutions to a variety of common canine behavioral problems.
Overall, the Pet Psychology class is designed to give the students an understanding of the emotional and psychological behaviors of small animals, in particular canine and feline psychology. Next week, Brad and Kari will take the class on a field trip to a local dog park to cover points on human posture and stance, leash management, positive and negative reinforcement techniques, and reacting to different animal behaviors including: anxiety, stress, fear and aggression.
Be sure to check out our Facebook page for more photos and videos from the class.
Are you passionate about caring for animals and Veterinary work? Learn more about our Veterinary Hospital Assistant (VHA) diploma program and discover rewarding career opportunities in the industry.
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