The Student Room Group

Veterinary assistant- help with job

Hello,
I work at a referral veterinary practice as a theatre assistant. I have recently received a verbal warning due to some small mistakes that I made like not regularly checking the clipper blades' temperature and, on some occasions mishearing things that the surgeons asked for like sutures and instruments.

So an instance happened last Tuesday where we had a brucella case in and I was asked to submerge the kit that was used in rapizyme. I had a gown, mask and gloves on before going in when I was submerging the kits in the buckets of rapizyme I had the table in between the doors, I was then by the doorway when one of the nurses came over to ask if I was okay and I said I was waiting for the kits since it has to be submerged for 10 minutes I asked about bombing the room and she asked how long the kit needed to be left in there to which I said 5 minutes, and then she asked if I could shut the door to the theatre to reduce it from spreading which I did immediately.

After that I then put the kit in the dishwasher and submerged the last of the kit, and then another assistant came in to assist me with deep cleaning the theatre since it's quite big, and the nurse from earlier brought us the cleaning supplies we needed e.g detergent and disinfectant.
And then all the clothes etc were put in a vinegar bag to which i then put in the washing machine straight away.

So basically, because I got a verbal warning 5 weeks ago so will last on my record till November, so with the instance that I left the table in the door for like 5 minutes which I feel very annoyed at myself about it looking back as it was a very stupid mistake. I have a hearing next week to determine the next steps and see if it needs to go any further, so I'm hoping that nurse has't told my boss but I have a feeling she proabaly has.

If the nurse has told my boss do you think they will bring it up in the meeting and potentially give me another warning?
Original post by mia.miller
Hello,
I work at a referral veterinary practice as a theatre assistant. I have recently received a verbal warning due to some small mistakes that I made like not regularly checking the clipper blades' temperature and, on some occasions mishearing things that the surgeons asked for like sutures and instruments.
So an instance happened last Tuesday where we had a brucella case in and I was asked to submerge the kit that was used in rapizyme. I had a gown, mask and gloves on before going in when I was submerging the kits in the buckets of rapizyme I had the table in between the doors, I was then by the doorway when one of the nurses came over to ask if I was okay and I said I was waiting for the kits since it has to be submerged for 10 minutes I asked about bombing the room and she asked how long the kit needed to be left in there to which I said 5 minutes, and then she asked if I could shut the door to the theatre to reduce it from spreading which I did immediately.
After that I then put the kit in the dishwasher and submerged the last of the kit, and then another assistant came in to assist me with deep cleaning the theatre since it's quite big, and the nurse from earlier brought us the cleaning supplies we needed e.g detergent and disinfectant.
And then all the clothes etc were put in a vinegar bag to which i then put in the washing machine straight away.
So basically, because I got a verbal warning 5 weeks ago so will last on my record till November, so with the instance that I left the table in the door for like 5 minutes which I feel very annoyed at myself about it looking back as it was a very stupid mistake. I have a hearing next week to determine the next steps and see if it needs to go any further, so I'm hoping that nurse has't told my boss but I have a feeling she proabaly has.
If the nurse has told my boss do you think they will bring it up in the meeting and potentially give me another warning?

It doesn't sound like any harm was done from your mistake with leaving the door open. I personally wouldn't have made a complaint about you with regards to this.

However, if you seem to be known for making lots of mistakes then maybe someone would mention it to your boss - however I am not the nurse and I can't speak for what she would do.

Regardless, you did it. All you can do is own up to your mistakes and learn from them so that they do not happen again.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Reply 2

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.
Original post by aria.smith009
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.

Good morning, I have merged your thread with a very similar one from another user (so similar you even start with the exact same intro - clearly you both have a lot in common!) and I thought the advice that @louisvbird gave would be very relevant for you.

Perhaps you and @mia.miller can start supporting each other two - I imagine these experiences can make someone feel quite alone - now, thanks to TSR, you can both see that it's not just you. :smile:

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