VEG Education Insights: Cultivate for Vet Nursing Skills
- VEG
- a few seconds ago
- 3 min read
Cultivate is a VEG education program that focuses on ER nursing skills. And whether you’re an experienced veterinary nurse or new to the field there’s something to learn—which is why Lauren Risk, a nursing trainer at VEG Camp Bowie in Fort Worth, Texas, decided to participate. Learn about her Cultivate experience and how it helped her grow in her role at VEG.
How did you learn about Cultivate?
I was hired prior to the release of Cultivate, but I was very impressed with the training that did exist at the time. VEG does a great job of providing the foundation for limitless growth. When Cultivate started, it was communicated to me by my local leadership and by VEG Nursing Education.
Why did you participate? What were you hoping to get out of the program?
Cultivate was a great addition to the foundation that tech school had given to me and I knew the knowledge offered would be in line with the VEG standard. I immediately saw its value in giving me fundamental knowledge for my role.
As anyone in this industry knows, our profession changes daily. To try and keep on top of all the information is quite a daunting task. In our industry, VEG is the best at ER medicine, so I knew the content would be better than industry standard. And the nice thing about working directly for the source of the information is knowing that the information will shift and grow with our industry—I don't have to worry that I'm receiving outdated information.
What kind of support did you receive from your team/manager to further your learning?
My team and local leadership could not have been more supportive! Whether I was trying a new skill for the first time, attempting to grasp a new concept, or trying to apply newly learned knowledge to my daily work, my entire VEG team was always there for me. The doctors challenged me to find my own answers, but never left me stranded. My nursing and assistant teammates were always so patient while I attempted a new skill. This is the norm at VEG.
What was your favorite aspect of the program?
My favorite thing about Cultivate is how comprehensive it is in creating the same foundation VEG-wide. We all come to the table with very different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Because of this, it can be hard to sync up a team from an educational standpoint. VEG has nailed this by requiring all of us, regardless of education or experience, to learn the same foundational information. After that, the beauty of all our unique experiences adds to that foundation. The clarity we all get from a shared foundation is also a rarity in our industry.
Share something unexpected about your experience.
The most unexpected thing I've encountered going through Cultivate is that the end is not the end. Finishing Cultivate means nothing with regard to the opportunities that come after. I'm not talking about "once you have this degree you will receive . . ." kind of opportunities. I'm talking about the kind of opportunities that sneak up on you in the best way. The kind of opportunities that have you going, "Wait, are you talking to me?"
How will this program help you grow in your career at VEG?
Cultivate has been the vehicle that allows me the greatest joy in my work—helping grow others. In my role as a nursing trainer, I can foster the growth of motivated individuals around me. I try to impress upon them that their current ambitions are not anywhere near what they are capable of. After two different hospitals and 3.5 years with VEG, I've learned not to limit my own ambitions. It’s such a growth focused environment. I can pitch an idea to my colleagues and wait for them to give me the, "That's good, but did you consider this?"
Is there something you are doing now that you weren’t able to do before completing this program?
From a purely technical standpoint, Cultivate has increased my confidence in many of my skills (#femaleurinarycatheter). On a more impactful level, being a student of and now facilitator of Cultivate has taught me that I'm capable of so much more than I give myself credit for. The goals are mine to set and mine to attain, but I won’t achieve these alone. I am surrounded by the most supportive group of veterinary professionals I've ever encountered.
Search for a job in veterinary medicine where the learning never stops.
VEG ER for Pets prides itself on its culture of learning, with educational programs that help grow your knowledge and support your career goals, whether you’re a student, new to ER, or a seasoned veterinary professional.
