The student will be able to:
A. Perform proper office and hospital procedures and client relations
B. Perform proper pharmacy and pharmacology procedures
C. Perform proper examination and treatment room procedures
D. Perform proper surgical preparation and assisting
E. Perform proper animal medical and surgical nursing
F. Perform proper clinical laboratory procedures
G. Assist in radiology and ultrasound imaging
H. Perform proper laboratory animal procedures, and avian and exotic animal procedures (where available)
I. Perform proper hospital maintenance
J. Perform proper workplace safety

The student will receive structured clinical skills instruction by licensed veterinarians and/or credentialed veterinary technicians in a private veterinary practice or research site. The preceptor site supervisor is provided with the Essential Tasks for Veterinary Assistants as specified by the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators Committee and program-specific competency checklists as guidelines for the accomplishment of clinical skills performance objectives. Emphasis will be on skill development and hands-on experience in the following areas:
A. Office and Hospital Procedures and Client Relations
1. Describe the role of the veterinary assistant in the veterinary health care team
2. Demonstrate all aspects of a good work ethic
3. Recognize and describe appropriate standards of practice in a veterinary facility
4. Keep written records of skills performance and create written progress reports
5. Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication using proper medical vocabulary
6. Integrate effectively into the veterinary health care team
7. Apply theory and principle to the practical clinical setting
B. Pharmacy and Pharmacology
1. Basic medical calculations
2. Basic understanding of common veterinary medications
C. Examination and Treatment Room Procedures
1. "Rooming" patients
2. Obtaining patient data from clients
3. Obtaining patient data, including vital
D. Surgical Preparation and Assisting
1. Cleaning and autoclaving surgical instruments
2. Assisting in patient preparation for surgical procedures
3. Assisting in anesthesia
E. Animal Medical and Surgical Nursing
1. Administering medication
2. Assisting in patient nursing care
F. Clinical Laboratory Procedures
1. Assisting in obtaining samples, including for in-house and outside lab evaluations
G. Assisting in Radiology and Ultrasound Imaging
1. Assisting with positioning
2. Understanding radiology safety
H. Laboratory Animal Procedures; Avian and Exotic Animal Procedures (where available)
1. Assisting in obtaining samples including for in-house and outside lab evaluations
I. Hospital Maintenance
1. Cleaning kennels and all human and animal facilities
2. Assisting in maintenance of laboratory equipment, instruments and hospital equipment
J. Workplace Safety
1. Proper restraint and animal handling
2. Proper handling of equipment and samples
3. Proper lifting techniques
4. Understanding of OSHA laws and regulations

A. Clinical preceptorship in a veterinary facility under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician.
B. Practice clinical skills under direct supervision and complete a set of clinical skills competency checklists and projects.
C. Verbal and written evaluations by the clinical supervisor.

A. Completion of a set of clinical skills competency checklists and written evaluation by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician

A. Internship/preceptorship

Pattengale, Paula. Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant. 3rd ed. Wiley, John and Sons, Inc., 2014.

Romich, Janet A. An Illustrated Guide to Veterinary Medical Terminology. 4th ed. Cengage Learning, 2014.



Although these texts are older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, they remain seminal texts in this area of study.

 

A. Weekly reading assignments from online modules, text, internet resources, and other outside sources, ranging from 30-60 pages per week.

B. Written assignments, participation in online forum discussions.