V T 57L: ADVANCED SMALL ANIMAL NURSING
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Summer 2025 |
| Units: | 1 |
| Hours: | 3 laboratory per week (36 total per quarter) |
| Prerequisite: | V T 56. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade Only |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Senior students will perform routine preventive care duties for all program animals.
- Student will perform diagnostic nursing skills on program animals.
- Student will work with peers to develop nursing assessments and nursing plans of program animals.
Description
Practical application of animal care skills and principles of animal care and management, integrating advanced techniques and knowledge gained through classroom instruction and hands-on skills. Opportunity to participate in the health care team in a supervisory role with increased organizational responsibility. Emphasis on nursing care and diagnostic nursing for acute and chronic conditions. Intended for students in the Veterinary Technology Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Perform routine preventive care duties for all program animals.
- Develop nursing assessments and nursing plans.
- Perform diagnostic nursing.
Course Content
- Care of all program animals
- Dogs and cats
- Physical examination
- Medical record keeping
- Vaccination (as needed)
- Deworming and fecal examination (as needed)
- Heartworm testing and prevention (as needed)
- Environmental enrichment program
- Review of daily SOPs
- Goats
- Physical examination
- Medical record keeping
- Vaccination (as needed)
- Review of daily SOPs
- Dogs and cats
- Nursing assessments, nursing considerations, and nursing plans
- Integument system
- Skeletal system
- Muscular system
- Cardiovascular system
- Immune system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Nervous system
- Endocrine system
- Urinary system
- Reproduction system
- Sensing organs
- Perform diagnostic nursing
- Bloodwork
- Urinalysis
- Diagnostic imaging
- Fecal exams
- ECG
- Blood pressure
- Skin scraping
- Parasite identification
Lab Content
- Practical application of animal care skills and principles of animal care and management, integrating advanced techniques and knowledge gained through classroom instruction.
- Opportunity to participate in the health care team in a supervisory role with increased organizational responsibility.
- Instruction of first-year students in basic principles of facilities management and maintenance care of resident animals.
- Practice or demonstration of nursing skills necessary to small animal practice.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
1. Live animals of companion, large, and laboratory animal species; housing and restraint facilities.
2. Laboratory equipped with examination tables and diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and supplies as needed.
2. Laboratory equipped with examination tables and diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and supplies as needed.
Method(s) of Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:
Evaluation of care of program animals
Assessments
Weekly lab performance
Method(s) of Instruction
Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:
Discussion
Field work
Demonstration
Lab activities
Collaborative work
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Bassert, Joanna M., and Dennis M. McCurnin. Clinical Textbook For Veterinary Technicians, 10th ed.. 2023.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Weekly reading assignments from text, class handouts, and outside sources.
- Medical record keeping for program teaching animals.
- Daily care of program animals.
- Skills practice with instructor or classmates.
Discipline(s)
Registered Veterinary Technician