A Day in the Life: A New Veterinary Technician at Ryan Hospital
It’s your first week at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, and your nerves are real—but so is the excitement. You’ve just graduated from tech school, passed the VTNE, and now you’re standing in the middle of one of the busiest veterinary teaching hospitals in the country. You were ready for the challenge—and Ryan Hospital is ready for you.
Your shift starts at 7:00 AM. You grab a cup of coffee and meet up with your assigned mentor, a mid-career veterinary technician who remembers exactly what it was like to be in your shoes. You head to rounds together and start reviewing the caseload for the day.
You help place IV catheters, prep medications, monitor vitals, and observe as a senior tech calmly walks through RECOVER protocols during an emergency. You’re not just watching—you’re learning by doing, building confidence with each skill.
A little later, you assist with patient treatments. You carefully check fluid lines and administer medications, asking questions and getting real-time feedback from your team. A student asks for help with restraint, and you’re able to step in. You’re starting to feel like you belong here.
By lunch, you’re grabbing a bite with your coworkers. You talk about the incredible variety of cases you’ve already seen—parvo puppies, trauma patients, a diabetic cat in crisis. This isn’t your typical GP caseload you’ve been accustomed to, but you know this is exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Your mentor checks in mid-afternoon to go over your training goals. You’re surprised how much you’ve already done—and how supported you feel. There’s a clear path forward, with options to rotate through departments, get CE credits, and even pursue VTS certification if that’s where your passion leads.
At the end of your shift, you’re tired—but proud. You’ve made a difference. You’ve learned from the best. And you know that tomorrow, you’ll grow even more. This isn’t just a job. It’s a launch pad for your veterinary nursing career.