Beyond the “sink-or-swim” training mentality: can structured onboarding improve veterinary technician satisfaction and retention?
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Workforce shortages and turnover among credentialed veterinary technicians impose substantial operational and financial costs on veterinary practices. Despite these consequences, onboarding often remains informal, reinforcing a "sink-or-swim" culture that may contribute to early-career distress and underutilization of skills. Although veterinary technician-specific transition-to-practice research remains limited, data from human nursing may offer relevant onboarding strategies. Human nursing literature describes predictable early-career challenges during the first year of practice and promotes structured onboarding anchored by mentorship, competency-based progression, and resilience-building support to improve satisfaction and retention.
Author: Courtney L. Ziegler
Institutions: Intertek (Canada), Itrust Consulting, Exercise Science Consulting
Language: English
Subfield: Speech and Hearing
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7154723682
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