This Veterinary Technician Week, we celebrate our exceptional veterinary nurses. At VEG, we refer to our credentialed veterinary technicians as veterinary nurses because we believe that's the role they play—providing expert care and leadership in every aspect of veterinary medicine. But beyond just celebrating them, we create opportunities for them to grow and succeed in unexpected ways. At VEG, we find ways to say YES to our VEGgies—empowering them to use their skills to their fullest potential, explore leadership roles they may not have considered, work in an uplifting environment, and reignite their passion for veterinary medicine.
But don’t just take it from us—hear it from some of our outstanding veterinary nurses about their journeys at VEG.
EMPOWERED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
"I have never worked at a place that made me feel so supported and empowered! Every day I have the opportunity to help plan what is best for my patients, which can include pain or behavior modification. The doctors trust me to make judgment calls and perform procedures to improve patient care. It’s not just the doctor creating orders—the nursing staff is encouraged to take an active role!" – Erin Kraus, CVT, VTS (ECC), Shift Lead at VEG Northern Liberties
DISCOVERING LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL IN VET MED
"Prior to coming to VEG, I never thought about holding a leadership position. I didn’t think my peers would see me as a leader. Once I arrived at VEG, my management team saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I was hesitant about taking the shift lead position because I was scared of not succeeding. There are still days when I think I’m failing, but I have a supportive team that tells me how much they appreciate me. Since taking this role, I’ve learned to be a leader for my team both on and off the floor." – Monique Brown, RVT, Shift Lead at VEG Brentwood
BUILDING PERSONAL CLIENT CONNECTIONS
"VEG gives me opportunities to connect with clients unlike anywhere else! It starts when someone yells, ‘I have a triage!’ I welcome the client, walk them to the scale, introduce myself, and observe my patient. I sit on the floor to create a more comforting and inviting experience for both the pet and the pet parent. The pet parent learns my name as the veterinary nurse, and they get to see my skill set, whether it’s placing catheters or drawing blood. I love seeing their faces when I say, ‘You can even stay the night with your baby!’ VEG allows me to do what I do best while helping some amazing pet parents and their babies." – Steph Girten, RVT, Veterinary Nurse at VEG Encinitas
REDISCOVERING PASSION IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
"Please excuse my mushroom hair—this is the first patient I’ve ever placed a jugular catheter in! I love working for VEG because they’ve shown me love when I’ve needed it most. I suffered a huge loss in my family during the opening of the clinic, and my coworkers wiped my tears. I’d proudly do the same for them and our clients. I enjoy being the funny veterinary nurse because laughter is the best medicine. I once told a client, ‘Hi, my name is Ace, but you can call me cactus because I’m here to give your kitty a prick!’ And she loved it. A smile goes a long way, and everyone deserves some relief in difficult times. VEG is where I went when I thought I was done in veterinary medicine due to burnout, but now it feels like my first day again." – Ace Hubbard, RVT, VN at VEG Elk Grove
THANK YOU, VETERINARY NURSES!
At VEG, we’re committed to saying YES to our veterinary nurses, helping them achieve the unexpected in their careers. Their skills, compassion, and leadership shape the lives of pets and families every day. We are incredibly proud of all they do, and this Veterinary Technician Week, we honor and celebrate their contributions.
To all veterinary technicians: Thank you for everything you do! And if you want to say YES to a career that will love you back → veg.com/careers
