VSPN STAF129-0519: Effective Staff Meetings and Training

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Enrollment is closed.
Instructor: Heather Howell, RVT, LVT, MBA
Course Open: May 7, 2019-May 31, 2019
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, May 14 and 21, 2019; 9:00-10:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date.

Level and Prerequisites: This advanced course is focused primarily toward veterinary practice managers, hospital administrators, supervisors, and those involved in the planning and conducting of the staff meetings.
VSPN CE Course: Open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians/technologists, support staff, veterinary teams, etc. “This program has been approved for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. “ (22-36114)
This course is approved by VHMA for CVPM credit. (VHMA program # 08-17)

Course Description:
The goal of this course is to enable and empower veterinary practice leaders to effectively plan and conduct staff meetings that enhance staff training and problem solving. The course will cover how to schedule meetings, how to plan meeting agendas, what should be discussed at meetings, and how to keep meetings on track. The course will also discuss how to increase learning at meetings and decrease the poor morale, attendance, and 'bad' feelings. The course will start with the basics of meeting scheduling, and writing agendas, and move on to more in-depth discussion of meeting ideas and activities.

Week 1 (Real Time Session May 14): How to Kill a Meeting AND How to Bring Meetings Back to Life
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • decrease poor attendance at staff meetings.
  • consider alternatives for in-person attendance using technology.
  • arrange scheduling regarding staff meetings to minimize issues.
  • reconstruct meeting agendas to avoid common pitfalls regarding meetings.
  • support your staff meetings and make them fun.
Week 2 (Real Time Session May 21): Getting Staff Involved, Energized and Learning
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
  • determine desired outcomes for staff meetings.
  • integrate team members in training and participation at meetings.
  • devise ways to improve employee morale regarding staff meetings.
  • plan and conduct staff meetings that allow continuous learning to occur.
  • consider technology to enhance staff meetings.
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor:
Heather Howell, RVT, LVT, MBA is a credentialed veterinary technician in CA and NV. She received her BS in Animal Science at UC Davis and her MBA at the University of Nevada, Reno. Since 1988, she has worked in all capacities of the veterinary hospital including hospital administrator, practice management consultant, speaker, and instructor. She is also an adjunct professor the Veterinary Technology Bachelor’s program at Tarleton State University.

Total CE Credit: 3

Tuition: Member $63 ($57 early bird special if enrolled by April 23, 2019)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on May 14, 2019 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Enrollment is closed.

*Note: "This program has been approved for 3 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval. " (22-36114);
This course has been approved for continual education units toward CVPM requirements through VHMA (08-17).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357