Hello,
I work at a veterinary practice as a theatre assistant, and recently I received a verbal warning for things like not checking clipper blades' temperature to avoid clipper rash, mishearing instruments that surgeons asked for.
I had a catch-up today with my boss to discuss my performance as I've got a hearing next week to determine my next steps.
They brought up three points:
- Last week I was helping clip for a TPLO clip on a dog and I clipped about 2 inches more than needed past the base of the tail.
- On Tuesday, I was circulating a case for an orthopaedic and was asked to get some items like 2.7 locking screws I heard her say long screws so I had a look but couldn't find them and asked the sterilising technician who couldn't find any 2.7 long screws but gave me normal length ones instead which was actually what the scrub nurse asked for as she said they already had enough long screws, but when they opened the screws it said on the box cortical screws so was labelled wrong.
Was also asked to get some medium gelpis misheard and accidentally got large but got the right ones afterwards.
- A few weeks ago I circulated a case which was an arthroscopy and tplo, so at the end of the arthroscopy the surgeon gave me the scope and camera etc and I was told by the scrub nurse to be careful with the camera, so I put a mat down to cushion it all on the floor whilst I swept up all the water from the arthroscopy Hartmans, I was about to take it to sterilising but then the surgeon wanted me to start opening the tplo kit so got left till the end of the surgery.
My boss said that it wasn't ideal as it was left on the floor for the end of the surgery so an hour.
they did point out in the meeting that it's slightly the surgeon's fault for giving to me and not putting it in a box, but then said if it was left for like 5 minutes on the floor it would've been fine.
I apologised and admitted it was my fault and asked if that will affect the decision next week to which they said it will be mentioned and they don't know what the result will be themselves.
But they did mention some positives too like I've been proactive etc.
Do you think these points that they mentioned especially about the arthroscopy bit that I will get a warning? so my first written.
Just worried cause if I do then I have one lifeline left, if I do one thing wrong after that they will sack me, and I can't find many jobs at the moment in animals.