Pulse - August 2023 - 13

for the time I get to spend with my own pets
and take additional time on the days where I
need their emotional support. Likewise, I have
an incredible team at BluePrints and can truly
count on them for validation or acknowledgment
if I ever question myself. It's one of the
many things that a healthy team can do for
each other.
There are four individuals in veterinary
medicine that I hold in exceptionally high
esteem, Dr. Roger Fingland, Dr. Bob Murtaugh,
Dr. Phil Bergman, and Dr. Susan Hackner,
although there are many others.
We worked with Dr. Fingland several years
ago to rename and rebrand the Kansas State
University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Not
only was it an honor, but it was an incredible
learning experience visiting with him and the
staff in Manhattan, Kansas, and being part of a
significant change in their image.
Dr. Murtaugh and Dr. Bergman are truly at
the top of their games and continue to make
Emma Cusack, RVT
Practice manager
Animal Care Services, Norco
W
hat I like about working in veterinary medicine is, first and foremost, our patients. I know that what I
contribute aids in making the lives of the animals I work with better.
But that isn't all. It is also being able to
work with like-minded people who I am able
to share the same experiences with and talk
the same talk. And yes, while there are always
those clients that can make a bad day worse,
there are still plenty who can bring joy back
when you find yourself in a day where all the
joy seems to have disappeared.
I also like the variety. In this line of work,
there is never a dull day. There is always something
going on to keep your mind sharp and
body moving.
I am a strong believer in raising the bar on
nursing standards of care. When I see nursing
staff who I have trained go that extra mile to
ensure their patients' comfort and wellbeing
and witness our front desk staff jump to assist
a client struggling to control their pet, or hold
open a door for them, that feeds my soul.
I started in this industry 30 years ago as a
veterinary assistant in a general practice, evolving
over time to experience work as an RVT
with exotics and avian, in emergency and critical
care, shelter medicine, RVT education and
now as a practice manager.
Daily, I make every effort to avoid " bad "
days. I do this by being mindful of the heartbeats
that surround me and by knowing that
bad days are very rarely self-inflicted, so not to
dwell.
If I am unable to read the temperature of
the room, I have zero ability to change a negative
mood. Negativity has a domino effect, so
PULSE
AUGUST 2023
as a manager it is my responsibility to always
try to catch the first domino so it doesn't take
all the other dominos with it. I am selfish; bad
equals sad. Personally, I hate being sad and I
don't want others to feel that way either, so how
I keep going is to work hard to find a solution
to reverse the " bad " day.
Communication is a great equalizer, and listening
is an even better way to change bad, mad,
sad to glad. It rarely does, but when something
really gets me down, I talk it out with someone
I trust. A glass of wine and a good meal don't
hurt, either.
There have been many encounters with clients
that illustrate why I work in veterinary
medicine. One that will always remain in my
heart is the gratefulness a young couple felt surrounding
the euthanasia of their beloved pet.
I was in shelter medicine at that time, and
it was common for community members to
schedule lower-cost euthanasias at the shelter.
We had a little shed on the grounds designed to
look like a living room on the inside with sofas,
rugs and pictures on the wall. I would take the
clients to the room, talk to them about the euthanasia
process, prepare the pet and perform
the euthanasia.
This couple had so many questions and we
sat for quite some time as I answered them
all. After preparing their pet we talked some
more, and it was so evident that they were trying
to decide if they should go through with
it. The dog was young and had a history of
13
seizures that their veterinarian was not able
to get under control, and as their pup was getting
worse by the day, they had decided to euthanize.
They cried, I comforted, and we talked
some more before they were able to say they
were ready.
A week later I received the most heartfelt
letter of thanks for allowing them to spend
the time they needed to make their goodbyes.
What seemed the most natural thing for me
meant more to them than I had ever imagined.
Moments like this and many others are why
I continue to enjoy and am fulfilled by my
work.
I have many role models in veterinary medicine.
They are the veterinarians I work with
who aren't afraid to show compassion and
concern for their clients and patients, and who
like to teach. They are the technicians and assistants
who demonstrate exceptional nursing
standards of care, and they are the receptionists
who spend time shooting the breeze with our
clients, getting to know them, and are always
smiling and cheerful.
My role models are also those who work
exceptionally hard every day to make everyone
else on the team and beyond feel special.
extraordinary contributions to the profession.
Dr. Hacker, CMO of Cornell University Veterinary
Specialists, has built an incredible practice
with the best culture I've witnessed. They
have very high standards, and have attracted
talent that hold themselves to the same level
and continue to want to advance their knowledge
and skills. I am proud to call all of these
individuals friends.

Pulse - August 2023

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