Pathways to Success

Garden Spot High School

Taylor Dickson – Veterinary Internship

As a student at Garden Spot High School, I have the opportunity to gain experience outside of the classroom by participating in an internship. My internship takes place at the New Holland Veterinary Hospital in New Holland, Pennsylvania. It’s a small animal practice located across from my high school so it’s an easy commute. Every morning I arrive at 8:30 a.m. Most mornings I observe surgeries. In between procedures, I stop by exam rooms and observe appointments. Typically, I solely observe but every once in a while I am asked to assist in holding the animals.
Since I’ve started interning, I have gotten to assist with many c-sections. Once the puppies are removed from the uterus, those who are available help with bringing the puppies into the world. Once I’m handed a newborn puppy, it’s my job to clamp its umbilical cord, tie it off, remove the placenta, and clear the puppy’s airway. After they are cleaned, it’s time to wake them up! We hold them with a towel and rub their back until they start to squeak. Then, they are laid in a heated laundry basket until pick up time.
Once, I had the opportunity to try my hand at suturing a banana to practice throwing stitches. It was significantly harder than it looks! Learning to hold the needle with the tools was uncomfortable at first, but I look forward to trying again. Throughout my time so far, I have learned the importance of sterilization and how to properly practice this safety technique. For instance, I now have the ability to put on sterile gloves, open suture packs, and open tools so that they remain sterile.
My experience as an intern in a veterinary hospital has been very beneficial to understanding my chosen career path. Watching the surgical procedures or examinations gets me excited to become a veterinarian. Additionally, this opportunity has given me internship experience that one would typically gain in college. Not to mention it looks great on a resume. I’m thankful for the chance to intern at the New Holland Veterinary Hospital where the people are patient and willing to show me how things work. Overall, my experience so far has been beneficial to help me get an idea of what my future looks like.
veterinary

jhackman • March 15, 2018


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