Elana+M

= = = Veterinarian =

Summary
A veterinarian works with animals, helping to prevent them from disease, and provide medical attention where it is needed. Most of a veterinarians days are spent vaccinating animals but they also get to save lives aswell.

My questions
approxiamately how many hours a day does a vet work? what subjects do you need to take and pass to be a vet? what does the job pay?

tasks and duties
A vet needs to examine animals to find out if they have or how bad their health problems may be. They also treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. They vaccinate animals to protect them from diseases, like rabies. They collect blood or any other body fluids for examination and analysis. They operate on the animals if need be, they use equipment such as radiographic and ultra sound equipment and interpret the resulting images. they inform animal owners of sanitation, feeding and generel care to promote health of animals.

personal and physical qualities

 * be mature and responsible
 * work well under pressure
 * inspire confidence in clients
 * be good communicators
 * have organisational skills
 * be decisive and able to solve problems.
 * understanding
 * patient
 * love animals

Working conditions

 * long and irregular hours, are often on call, and may also work evenings and weekends
 * may work at clinics and hospitals; on farms; at zoos, catteries or dog kennels and border control stations; in meat processing plants, laboratories or teaching institutes
 * often have to travel locally to visit and treat animals.

Skills and knowledge

 * knowledge of animals and animal diseases
 * animal-handling skills
 * knowledge of animal anatomy, physiology and biology
 * knowledge of biochemistry, microbiology and parasitology
 * skill in treating animals with medicines and performing surgery
 * knowledge of radiography, dentistry and lab methods
 * up-to-date knowledge of developments in veterinary science.
 * Business management knowledge may also be useful

Pay: question three
between 45-120k may deffer depending on location and experience.

Hours and contact with people : question one:
a full time veterinarian works about 40 hours a week sometimes more and needs to have a flexible schedule to fit around surgeries and call outs. Their contact with people varies daily depending on how many appontments they have or how many call outs they get that day. Some days could be full on but others may not be.

Education: question two:

 * complete a Bachelor of Veterinary Science
 * be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand
 * have an Annual Practising Certificate
 * NCEA Level 3 English, maths, physics, chemistry and biology are strongly recommended.

Useful experience

 * voluntary work at a local vet or SPCA

Related jobs

 * Zookeeper
 * Surgeon
 * Dog trainer

Conclusion:
In conclusion I think being a veterinarian would sometimes be very challenging and stressful but would also be a fun job too. I think most of my personal qualities and interests fit the requiremments of the job. I think I would need to develop the skills to make quick decisions and work well under pressure. I also think the job demand could go down meaning I could find it hard to get into the position of a veterinarian. Overall I am highly interested in this career.

Sources:
[] []