Nurse Elevation Program

The Nurse Elevation Program allows for Bond Vet nurses to significantly increase their yearly income, as they increase their skill set. Veterinary technicians in practice continue to struggle with low pay, compassion fatigue, and burnout as well as a lack of recognition and opportunities for career advancement, according to the 2016 National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America survey. This new initiative gives nurses the opportunity to make 50% higher the average veterinary technician pay. 

The Nurse Elevation Program establishes four distinct groups of nurses, based on a nurse’s experience, knowledge, licensing, and technical skills. A nurse can progress from one tier to the next by completing a set of requirements that have been thoughtfully cadenced by our medical leadership team. As nurses move up, so does their compensation — at each level, the hourly rate is best-in-class (up to $42 an hour). Within each pay band, that rate is higher for licensed/credentialed nurses to recognize the personal cost and professional value of going to nursing school and achieving licensure. 

Learn more HERE! 

The Smallest Mini Aussie You Ever Did See

It is finally the weekend which means you deserve a smile break! Marissa Snyder from the University of Pennsylvania shares some pictures of her mini Aussie, Louie, enjoying some sunny weather!

VIN Topic Rounds

Are you missing out on clinical rotations because of COVID-19? The VIN Student Team has you covered with Tuesday Topic Rounds.  During the month of February, join Mitchell D. Song, DVM, DACVD for 30 minute, case-based sessions on Dermatology every Tuesday at 12ET. Everyone and all levels of experience are welcome. There will be time for Q&A and discussion following. The next session is The Pruritic Dog on March 2, 2021 at 12 ET.

In this rounds:

• A logical step-wise approach to the most common presentation in veterinary medicine
• Useful and practical diagnostic tests for the pruritic dog
• Commonly used treatments and which ones to use when

TO JOIN THE SESSION, LOG INTO THE VIN STUDENT CENTER AND CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON IN THE TOP RIGHT

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) is here to help you as a vet student – especially during this worldwide pandemic. Membership is always free as a student!

Mysterious Sudden Deaths in a Beef Cattle Herd - Continued

Did you guess correctly? Check out what Ali found below!

"We were specifically concerned with Grass Tetany (Magnesium deficiency), but the Magnesium values came back within normal limits for each deceased animal. We tested the water for lead and arsenic, checked for other environmental factors, and found nothing. We did surveillance chemistries on 4 random females of different ages. Magnesium was borderline-low on all of them. The post-mortem samples weren't representative because when the animals seized or twitched severely before they died, Magnesium was released from where it is stored in muscle, elevating serum levels. In animals that had not experienced muscle damage or twitching showed true Mg serum values. 

This herd is now being supplemented with Magnesium Oxide dusted on their feed and mixed in with their free-choice mineral mix, and they have not had any problems since!"

Kudos to you if you figured it out! Don't forget to send us your cool cases!

Mysterious Sudden Deaths in a Beef Cattle Herd

We love hearing about all the cool cases you get to see! Ali Attenasio from Cornell University shares an interesting case about sudden death in a herd of cattle.

"A well-isolated herd of 85 Lowline Angus beef cattle had 5 cases of sudden death in 3 years. They are grass-fed, pastured in the summer and fed dry hay and haylage in the winter. They are on a free-choice mineral mix and have inconsistent access to protein tubs. The animals that died were breeding females of different ages (4-9 y/o) with calves at their side, and some were at different stages of pregnancy. They each spontaneously fell, stiffened, and seized intermittently before expiring. Samples were collected post-mortem for the diagnostics.

Diagnostics: 

- Nitrates (from aqueous humor)- within normal limits

- CBC/Chem- High Potassium (4/5 animals), all other values within normal limits.

- Necropsy- no significant findings, blood clot near heart of one animal

- Selenium- low end of normal

- Lead- negative"

Curious to learn more about the diagnosis? Check back in on Tuesday to learn about the rest of the case!