Academic Catalog

V T 89: CLINICAL INTERNSHIP I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 3
Hours: 10 laboratory per week (120 total per quarter)
This is a clinical laboratory course.
Prerequisite: V T 55 and 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

  • Consistently exhibit a strong work ethic and demonstrate the ability to adapt to to various methodologies and practice philosophies and successfully integrate into the veterinary workplace.
  • Observe, practice, and ultimately demonstrate entry-level competency in the skills delineated in the Internship Clinical Skills Lists for VT89.

Description

Off-campus practical clinical work experience in veterinary facilities supervised by licensed veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians. Integration into a veterinary health care team and exposure to varied methodologies and practice philosophies in a variety of clinical settings. Practical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in the first year program course work: clinical application of anatomy and physiology; medical terminology and medical math; chemistry and microbiology; interpersonal skills and office practices. Supervised hands-on training in basic medical and surgical nursing. Opportunity to practice and attain entry-level competency in essential clinical skills. 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:

  1. Integrate into a veterinary health care team
  2. Properly perform office and hospital procedures
  3. Demonstrate correct examination and treatment room procedures
  4. Demonstrate basic animal nursing
  5. Properly follow hospital maintenance and workplace safety guidelines

Course Content

  1. Integrate into a veterinary health care team
    1. 110 hours of practical work experience in a veterinary medical clinical setting
    2. Documentation, timetable, and deadlines
    3. Demonstrate professional behaviors
  2. Office and hospital procedures and client relations
    1. Medical record keeping
    2. SOAP charting
    3. Client education
  3. Examination and treatment room procedures
    1. Physical examination of dogs, cats, and other animals
    2. Safe restraint and handling
  4. Basic animal nursing
    1. Nursing assessment
    2. Nursing care plans
    3. Follow doctor's orders
  5. Hospital maintenance and workplace safety
    1. Universal precautions
    2. Illness and Injury Prevention Plan (IIPP)
    3. SDS
    4. Principles of asepsis

Lab Content

At a clinical internship, the content is dependent on the practice involved. However, supervisors and students meet to discuss expectations for the internship and a list of expected skills is provided to manage expectations. Emphasis is on skills development and practical work experience. The following topics will be included:

  1. Integrate into a veterinary health care team
  2. Properly perform office and hospital procedures
  3. Demonstrate correct examination and treatment room procedures
  4. Demonstrate basic animal nursing
  5. Properly follow hospital maintenance and workplace safety guidelines

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Off-campus, licensed, veterinary medical facility.
2. Stethoscope, proper clinical attire, name tag.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Midterm and end-of-quarter evaluation by supervising RVT or DVM
Midterm and end-of-quarter self-evaluation
A written health assessment on a patient
Documentation of hours in weekly log

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Clinical performance and demonstration of clinical skills
Regular class meetings on campus with instructor, as a class and one-on-one

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Loy, Kristine. Essential Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians. 2021.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Patient "SOAP" health assessment
  2. Discussions pertaining to clinical experiences

Discipline(s)

Registered Veterinary Technician