Dear Reader

We are now through the winter fun, and ahead lay the tough weeks and months until we can officially welcome spring. Perhaps it is too soon to be looking so far ahead, but I find this time of year both makes me reflect back over the year just passed, but also skip ahead over the dark and chilly nights.

On the subject of past reflection, reading the proofs of this month’s edition, the article “Ten top tips to make the most of your practice laboratory” transported me back to my own Clinical Pathology Laboratory class. It was my favourite class, and even now in practice I occasionally do things the old-fashioned manual way, just to keep my old skills fresh. The geek in me enjoys seeing how close my own RBC and WBC counts get to the results from our super-duper automated counter, or if I can spot the same parasite eggs found at the reference laboratory.

This article also put me in mind of an old lab coat, one that had been donated with a bunch of retired equipment from the local hospital to our college. All the lab coats were boxy and white but one, which was extra-long, had fitted darts, cap sleeves, and was bubble gum pink. It was a relic of the days when women working in the laboratory (or any profession for that matter) were still seen as women first, and employees second. This “lab coat” merely showed off one’s curves, and did little to protect the wearer. It definitely would not be acceptable by today’s Health & Safety standards! At college we all got a good laugh at it, and took turns modelling it and playing the joker. It’s a good reminder that although it is important not to let our manual skills perish, not all things old are still useful and we must move with the times. I hope you enjoy this month’s edition, and that it helps you pass some of the dark nights!

Author

Megan Whitehead, VNJ Executive Editor

VOL 31 • February 2016 • Veterinary Nursing Journal

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