Nanette Walker Smith is a native Coloradoan at heart, loves nature, animals, and the outdoors.  Her early career started with Zoology at the University of California Davis studying how animals live together, communicate, habitat, and activities.  Veterinary anatomy made an impact, and her mentors encouraged her to mentor her peers which quickly progressed to becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in 1988, followed by a degree in Architecture-Environmental Design in 1991, and a Master of Education in 2006.

Her first job as an RVT, was a general, 24/7 emergency, specialty surgery, and internal medicine practice in Sacramento, CA.  Over the next 12 years, Nanette gained the experience of all aspects of the growing practice and incorporating techniques to work in a busy small animal & exotic practice.  Patients showed all levels of stress from basic care and parent separation to serious wounds requiring significant patient involvement.  Because the standard of the practice included rounds with the all the veterinarians and their head RVTs morning and evening, the patients received input regarding more than just their medical condition, but their comfort level and insight into their behavior based on the amount of fear, anxiety, and stress they were experiencing due to hospitalization, pain, being away from home, etc. As her first practice standard, the method made a significant impression on patient care.  Every team member’s input is critical for care; even a small symptom can become a larger issue, but its harmful effect can be limited if communicated early.  Mentoring her coworkers and others increased as Nanette and her veterinarians added lecturing to in-house staff and at veterinary conferences on proper wound care and bandaging among other topics.

Other veterinary practices, teaching positions, and conservation/habitat work followed allowing Nanette to add topics such as team building, patient health and wellness, education, and more to the repertoire.  In addition, management of practical veterinary medicine has morphed several times, not always considerate of those most important.  From the push to have veterinarians rush through the ‘quick’ 15-minute exam to see more clients to make more money to the young veterinarians shying away from standard and large animal practice to work 3 12-hour emergency shifts so they have a life/work balance to large corporations buying up several small clinics or single vet practices in order to make veterinary medicine pay for itself, the main focus of patient care and animal advocacy was often being skirted.

The launch of Fear Free(R) in 2016 rejuvenated the importance of animal care and welfare.  In early 2018, Nanette completed her first level of certification as a Fear Free Professional.  In 2021 she attained ELITE Status and has been a member of the Practice Certification Consultant team for Fear Free since December 2021 helping certify veterinary practices.  Paying attention to a patient’s Fear, Anxiety, and Stress, (FAS) has allowed veterinary teams, trainers, shelters, animal parents, and more bring Fear Free(R) full circle to advocacy for the patient/animal and all of those involved with it.  Nanette is distinctly interested in ensuring safe and habitable areas for all creatures whether it is a short- or long-term stay.  Just because it looks pretty doesn’t mean it works well or decreases FAS!  Clients and veterinary teams are realizing how important this is for a pets’ (large, small, exotic) health and healing as well as it’s livelihood.  Being a Practice Consultant, Coach, and an Elite Fear Free Professional has added another exciting role in Nanette’s credentialed veterinary technician career – and she’s still loving her career!