Nearly Two Decades of Dedicated Service

October 17-22, 2022 is Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week. This week, we will be featuring stories showcasing the veterinary technicians at our clinics and hospitals. 

When she was 18 years old, Nicole Peters (she/her/hers) started working as an animal care attendant at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She spent a decade in the In-Patient Medicine Department, also known as the “wards.”

“I was actually brought into this field through a family friend and have been in love with this work ever since,” Peters says. “My love for helping animals grew and I eventually started working part time at a general practice to sharpen my technical skills, so that I could apply for a position as a technician at Cummings School.”

Peters acquired her certification as a veterinary technician, and is also fear free, recover, and radiation safety certified—and is nearing 20 years of service at Tufts.

“I enjoy working at Tufts because I love working with animals,” Peters explains. “It is rewarding to build client-patient relationships with recurring patients. I’ve watched patients steadily improve and regain the ability to walk or recover from a life-threatening experience to make their way home after an intense stay with us.”

As a vet tech in internal medicine, Peters is responsible for phlebotomies (blood draws), diagnostic imaging, in-patient and out-patient care, assisting doctors with appointments and procedures, administering medications, and facilitating tech appointments, such as blood work rechecks.

One of her most memorable clients was a 10-year-old Newfoundland, who came to Foster Hospital unable to walk. He spent several weeks in the hospital undergoing disc repair and rehabilitation. After he recovered, the dog returned for a recheck, walking and healthier than he had been in years.

“With dedication of the client, our staff, and the neurology department, this patient made a full recovery,” says Peters. “With our constant support and the owner’s determination, he exceeded the odds! Seeing him recover was one of the most rewarding things I have encountered. There is no other place I would rather be than with this amazing team of dedicated animal lovers at Cummings School.

Work hard and smile more. Join us.

Do you have a passion for taking care of pets and the people who love them? Are you looking for a collaborative work environment where you can learn, teach, and grow? Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is hiring Veterinary Technicians and Assistants.

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