Gratitude Abounds During Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week

October 16, 2020

Mindy wears a face mask and holds up her subway to go box lunch in Lynn Hall
Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Animal Behavior Technician Mindy Cotton, RVT, receives a Subway boxed lunch as a thank you during Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week.

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine takes great pride in educating the entire veterinary team, and veterinary nurses are a big part of that team! To show its support and gratitude for veterinary nurses, Purdue Veterinary Medicine held a week-long celebration during Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week. The series of special activities were thoughtfully planned so the college could safely continue an important tradition.  Meals were served in individually packaged grab-and-go containers as a safety precaution during the pandemic.

“PVM faculty, staff, and students are appreciative of one another every day, but this week provided a special opportunity for everyone to reflect on all the things that veterinary nurses do for our college and hospital, and to say thank you,” said Dean Willie Reed. As part of the planning, some creative energy went into creating fun names for each of the special events.  PVM’s veterinary nurses enjoyed getting well-deserved treats at:

  • You Make Us “Butter” Breakfast for veterinary nurses on Tuesday, October 13
  • You Are Our Heroes! Subway boxed lunches for veterinary nurses on Wednesday, October 14
  • Thanks a Dozen! Baked treats for veterinary nurses on Thursday, October 15
  • You are “Egg-cellent” Breakfast Sandwiches for veterinary nurses held today (Friday), October 16

Additionally, note card stations were placed throughout the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital to encourage faculty and staff to write a note of gratitude to veterinary nurses. Special thanks to the planning committee members who organized the week’s activities:  Megan Brashear, CVT, VTS (ECC); Brandi Maxie, RVT; Pam Phegley, RVT; Donna Tudor, RT; and Jolene Knuth, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia and Analgesia).

  • Jeannine holds up a bagged breakfast sandwich
    Jeannine Henry, RVT, instructional technologist, participates in the Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week celebration by picking up one of the “You are ‘Egg-cellent'” breakfast sandwiches for veterinary nurses this morning (Friday, October 16).
  • Linley gives a thumbs up as she holds up a bag of cookies. Brandi looks on leaning against the wall
    Veterinary nurse Brandi Maxie, RVT, looks on as Linley Brewer, RVT gets a treat from the “Thanks a Dozen” table that was set-up in Lynn Hall to recognize the contributions of veterinary nurses.

And remember, there’s still time, if you haven’t done so already, to say “thank you” to a veterinary nurse this afternoon, before the conclusion of PVM’s Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week!

Writer(s): Susan Xioufaridou and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, sincere gratitude is shared with Abby Props who is the Pathology Laboratory Supervisor in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Student Landscape Project Benefits Animals at Purdue Veterinary Hospital

A student-led landscape redesign project has taken root at Purdue University, in the form of outdoor upgrades at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Originally developed by Mary Schultz, a graduating senior in the College of Agriculture’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program, the project reimagined outdoor spaces used for animal recovery, training, and enrichment. This summer, the hospital implemented one of the recommendations, which involved replacing natural turf in an outdoor dog run with a new synthetic material.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Welcomes New Students

As the heat and long days of summer subsided and the start of a new school year approached, the sense of excitement and new beginnings pervaded Lynn Hall over the last couple of weeks with the arrival of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s new DVM and Veterinary Technology students. The DVM students in the Class of 2029 participated in a week-long onboarding program that started Monday, August 18, while the Veterinary Technology students in the first and second years of the program were welcomed with an Ice Cream Social and orientation program at the start of the fall semester.

Approaching Purdue Veterinary Conference Mixes CE and Celebration in September

The start of a new academic year signals the approach of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference and the last chance to get an early-bird discount on registration. The conference is scheduled for September 16-20 on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, and features a variety of specialized tracks as well as special events. Early bird registration ends September 1, and late fees will apply as of September 2.

Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Names New Senior Director of Admissions and Student Success

A key Purdue Veterinary Medicine staff member who has played a vital role in admissions and recruitment will now serve as the new senior director of admissions and student success. Lori Stout has been promoted to the position and Dean Bret Marsh announced the appointment Tuesday, August 26.

Lecture Hall Murals by Acclaimed Artist Continue to Inspire Lynn Hall Visitors

Two murals by artist Harry Boone have been part of Lynn Hall’s large lecture hall for more than 20 years. Commissioned in 1998, the works continue to leave a lasting impression, and Boone recently returned to campus to see them again.