Interpersonal Relations in Veterinary Technology - Essay Example

The Number 16 September As communication plays a distinguished role in hospitals and veterinary offices,so do interpersonal relations and interpersonal communication skills. Specifically, the job of a veterinary technician requires successfully communicating with clients, as well as staff either in hospital or veterinary office. Moreover, the specific feature of work these specialists is they should associate with one another or with clients on a regular basis. Certainly, communication may and does take place on an informal level, after the working day. The described connections make the notion of “interpersonal relations” an exceptionally important aspect of life within a hospital or veterinary office. My goal in this paper is to discuss the impact and role the interpersonal relations play in veterinary technology. In addition, I will explore how learning more about the importance of interpersonal relations influenced my professional growth. Before establishing the role and impact of interpersonal relations in the chosen field, let us focus on specific features of the work veterinary technicians or veterinary assistants do. Clearly, they perform a number of tasks that are related to animal health. For example, they may clean cages, administer medication, ensure the animals are secure in the areas specially designated for them, as well as prepare for surgeries or even assist with the latter. Moreover, a veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant is most likely to be engaged in handling telephone calls, both incoming and outcoming, greeting clients and scheduling numerous appointments. To add, veterinary technicians may have office hours that are scheduled for seeing animals with ailments. Lyn Solomon-Lynville, a Registered Veterinary Technician says, “a typical day consists of all of these functions” (Cassio 607). As one might see, interpersonal relations are inseparable a veterinary technician’s work. What do I understand under the notion of “interpersonal relations”? In my opinion, in terms of the discussed field one can effectively describe the latter as how a veterinary technician relates to his/her outside world, namely people around. Interpersonal relations are expressed through communication, which can be defined as a process of ideas exchange in which a common symbol system is employed. We also distinguish between verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication suggests exchanging thoughts with the help of auditory means (e.g. speaking or singing). This happens through speech and sound perception. As for non-verbal communication, it employs non-verbal means among which there are body and sign language, touch (refers to haptic perception), and, finally, eye-contact. Effective communication skills of a veterinary technician suggest that he/she successfully uses both forms of communication: verbal and non-verbal alike. As for verbal communication, a veterinary technician should be excellent both at speaking and listening. The job specifics include answering around a hundred of questions a day. Specifically, a veterinary technician should give numerous answers to clients, as well as give directions regarding pet care. As Robert Kehn, the author of “Veterinary Office Practices” points out, “clients will ask you the very questions that you have just finished explaining in your directions. Other times you may feel clients’ questions are irrelevant, unnecessary or a waste of precious time. But no matter what a question is you should never appear rushed or irritated” (Kehn 88) . Here Kehn stresses the need to answer all questions in a patient and tactful manner. Furthermore, listening is a crucial component of communication process. The Job Survival Instruction Book reminds that “in communication, listening is generally more important than talking” (quoted in Kehn 91). Therefore, to be a successful communicator a veterinary technician should learn how to listen. As Alfred Benjamin once said, “Genuine listening is hard work; there is little about it that is mechanical .... We hear with our ears, but we listen with our eyes and mind and heart and skin and guts as well.” (Encina, “Empathic Approach: Listening First Aid”) This is called empathic listening. Empathy may be understood as the process of attending to a person so that the latter feels he/she is heard in a way that does not judge (Encina, “Empathic Approach: Listening First Aid”). Empathy is particularly important for maintaining good interpersonal skills within an animal hospital since the majority of encounters may be with the pet owners who have very high emotions. However, it is not just people that empathy is important for. Empathy for animals is what any veterinary needs to have to successfully perform the job and interact within a hospital. Observing is also important for effective communication. Both controlling your own and interpreting other people’s non-verbal language is important. For example, a person may sound calm and reserved but his/her finger tapping will show his real emotion or feeling: boredom or even nervousness. Thus, effective use of such interpersonal communication tools as sign and body language (for instance, a smile and eye-contact) will contribute much to the overall success of interpersonal relations and sustain positive communication climate. Last but not least, ethics plays a pivotal role for maintaining successful interpersonal relations. Ethics is defined as “a system of moral principles” (Dictionary. Reference.Com). It deals with what should be the proper course of people’s actions. In my view, it is the job ethics as well as personal moral belief that form the foundations of any effective interpersonal relations. This can be explained by the fact that the qualities that a veterinary technician is supposed to display are all based on moral principles. To illustrate, the traits for positive interpersonal relations within the chosen field are patience, kindness, empathy, courtesy, and tact (Kehn 86). This assignment has helped me realize the importance of interpersonal skills training for my career path as a veterinary technician. Surprisingly, interpersonal relations in the job require a solid moral basis so that the specialist may be able to demonstrate such traits as patience, empathy, tact, etc. I have certainly anticipated that the job would involve a lot of communication and answering questions in particular. One of the most important recommendations I have got is to learn to listen. I hope this will help me in the future since I often get bored when listen to people for a long time. I think I can improve this through learning to listen and forcing myself to be empathically engaged with the speaker. To conclude, interpersonal relations are crucial for development of positive feelings as well as trust within an animal hospital or veterinary office. That is why the development of effective interpersonal skills is a significant part of veterinary training. Read More