Episode 64

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Published on:

1st Jul 2022

Tasha McNerney - Preventing Pain in Pets (& People!)

On today’s show I am joined by uber-technician and Anesthesia Nerds founder Tasha McNerney.

Tasha is a certified veterinary technician and pain practitioner specialising in anaesthesia as well as having the distinguished diploma in utterly nerdy vet tattoos!  

Her veterinary journey bagan back in 1997 when she first started working in practice and has seen her rise to become one of the most inspiring advocates for animals in our profession.  Tasha graduated from Michigan State University in 2003 with a degree in wildlife Biology, gained her LVT in 2006 after studying Veterinary Technology at Manor college, and in 2015 qualified as a Veterinary Technician Specialist in anaesthesia. 

She also works to educate the public on animal pain awareness, founding  Animal Pain Awareness Month alongside the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. 

She is a regular on the vet speaking circuit, and in 2020 she was recognised for her contributions by being voted VMX Speaker of the Year for Veterinary Technicians.

But perhaps her greatest accomplishment in doing all of this, is in finally proving beyond any doubt that nerds can be cool too. Well, at least Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds! If you are not picking up what I’m putting down then search for Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds on Facebook and you’ll find the group she founded with more than 18,000 other passionately devotees to making life safer for animals under our care, big glasses and, occasionally, cool ink... 

Speaking of awesome communities, a quick word from today’s show sponsor…. 

Did you know there is a community where you can learn the essential street skills for how to be a great GP vet upon which you can build a sustainable, fulfilling career. A place where you can access mentors, view jobs from practices that care about culture and access new weekly articles and podcasts dedicated to your career. 

That place is called VetX and you can access all of the resources including a career planning tool, 14 hours of accredited education, hundreds of articles and live mentor Q&A sessions, plus earn swag and more. And I, yes I will be your personal mentor! 

To join hundreds of other vets who have changed their careers for the better go to www.vetxinternational.com today. Registration is free so go to vetxinternational.com now.

Now back to the show,

I’ve known Tasha for years, so it was awesome to finally have this conversation. She’s not only a great advocate for our profession and a great person to spend some time with. If pain, learning how to look after yourself and cool tats are your jam, this episode is for you. Oh, and she’s also a fully paid up member of the “We love Great Britain Club”... what’s not to love? So let's jump right into this, my conversation with the fantastic, Tasha McNerney.

Episode Outline

  • [00:00] Introductions- The show starts with Tasha McNerney talking about her love for England and her general personal life.
  • [06:44] What are you currently working on in your life?
  • [11:11] Tasha talks about the work-life boundaries she has set and her relationship with her 10-year-old son
  • [14:27] How much in our life is too much to weigh in? What other boundaries have been set in relation to the veterinary work?
  • [18:00] Host asks Tasha if her work boundaries have ever created tension and resentment among the team members
  • [19:44] Tasha gives her thoughts on the work rate of the younger generation in the technical and veterinary fields
  • [25:25] How did you know you were burnt out? How do you keep emotionally fulfilled?
  • [28:50] Host asks Tasha to elaborate on the leadership pushbacks she was getting in her previous role
  • [30:00] What were the consequences of upholding your integrity and values in your previous role? 
  • [32:42] Tasha issues a message to people who experience work-life balance problem in their practice
  • [34:52] From your travels, have you seen something, systems, or ways of doing stuff that is different?
  • [40:22] Tasha mentions other life components of life that fulfill her. 
  • [44:06] Tasha explains she was able to influence the conception of animal pain awareness month.
  • [47:05] The duo discusses Tasha’s tattoos and their meanings in relation to anesthesia 
  • [55:05] Tasha talks about how she started the “Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds” group which has since built a strong presence on Facebook
  • [01:02:25] How often are measurements taken to gauge the changes in anesthetic mortality rate?
  • [01:03:30] Tasha talks about some of the things she would love to change in the veterinary anesthetic field
  • [01:06:16] Tasha and the host weigh into the excuses many practitioners make in not providing the best services to patients
  • [01:08:55] What are you most proud of in your career? 
  • [01:09:56] What is the best advice you have ever been given or given it to someone?
  • [01:12:45] What is the worst advice you have ever been given or given it to someone?
  • [01:14:44] Tasha gives her experience and opinion on having therapists
  • [01:20:12] If you could give yourself some advice on your graduation day, what would it be?
  • [01:20:45] Tasha describes her communication experience on Instagram and Facebook
  • [01:22:44] What additional message do you have for listeners? 
  • [01:25:20] Closing remarks
  • [01:26:49] The end. Learn More

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About the Podcast

Blunt Dissection
The best minds in veterinary medicine, academia & business profiled so you can learn from their experience.
The Blunt Dissection Podcast exists because everyone has a story worth listening to. It's the original and best interview podcast in veterinary medicine where the best minds in the various subcultures of veterinary medicine (and sometimes outside) are profiled/deconstructed so you can listen to their remarkable stories, and also learn the habits, routines, thought processes and anything else that makes these individuals so good at what they do.

What’s in it for you to listen? For some, it's entertainment, for others the show offers inspiration. My hope is that once you’ve seen the pathway to success all you have to do is follow the breadcrumbs. Simple right? So what are you waiting for? Let's jump in and get to know some amazing people better. :)

Sometimes funny, sometimes dark but always entertaining - welcome to the hidden world of veterinary success.

Your host is Dr Dave Nicol, a veterinarian, occasional CEO, multiple time author, international speaker and mentor/coach to countless vets, nurses and managers in veterinary leadership roles across the world through VetX International.

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Dave Nicol