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RVT > Introduction to Veterinary Technology > Flashcards

Introduction to Veterinary Technology Flashcards

1
Q

List 4 personal qualifications needed by someone looking to enter the veterinary field

A
  • Get along with people (i.e. co-workers, pet owners)
  • Ability to remain calm, alert, and patient when faced with unexpected crisis
  • Pleasant personality and good communication skills
  • Being able to cope with working with animals that have to be euthanized
  • Genuine desire to nurture/care for animals
  • Good organizational and time management skills
  • Being resourceful, dedicated, reliable
  • Be prepared to clean up messes, disagreeable odors, do heavy lifting, be subjected to animal bites, kicks, scratches, and have unpredictable working hours
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2
Q

Euthanasia

A

The act of ending the life of hopelessly sick or injured animals in a humane and painless way

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3
Q

Describe early veterinarians and vet school.

A
  • Ancient medical doctors treated primarily livestock, knew little ab animal anatomy/disease, pet-owner relationship not yet formed
  • Animal plagues hit Europe in 17/18th cent. So they decide to improve livestock health thus the first recorded animal anatomy and disease studies
  • 1761 school in France opens
  • 1850s schools open in US
  • 20th cent. Early vet schools closed and had to get college degrees
  • Most vets were male and worked in rural areas
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4
Q

AVMA

A

American Veterinary Medical Association

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5
Q

Describe early vet techs and vet tech school.

A
  • Vets used to have to train their own staff, techs only learning skills for one specific practice
  • 1961 colleges begin offering animal/animal health tech training programs
  • Vet field now offers training programs for other professions (I.e. kennel workers, lab animal attendants, etc.)
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6
Q

What is the AVMA’s primary purpose?

A

The AVMA accredits college training programs for vets and vet school

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7
Q

How do you become a licensed vet tech in the U.S.?

A
  • Graduate from AVMA accredited program
  • Pass VTNE & become licensed, certified, or registered (depending on state)
  • Each state has its own training and licensing requirements for vet techs
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8
Q

VTNE

A

Veterinary Technician National Exam

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9
Q

Veterinarian Practice Acts

A
  • A set of laws that gives each state the power to license and regulate the practice of veterinary medicine
  • Defines the specific physical facility requirements that a vet hospital must meet (I.e. proper equipment to run vet hospital properly)
  • May define educational and licensing requirements for credentialed VTs & the tasks they can do in office
  • Written by state legislators based on recommendations by a veterinary medical board
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10
Q

Veterinary Medical Board

A

A group of vets appointed by the governor to oversee the practice of veterinary medicine within a particular state
Holds hearings to air complaints about veterinary professionals in the state

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11
Q

International Council for Veterinary Assessment

A

Oversees the national licensing exams for vets

formerly the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

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12
Q

MVMA

A

Missouri Veterinary Medical Association

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13
Q

What do ALL State Veterinary Practice Acts require?

A
  • Vets must graduate from a AVMA-accredited school of vet medicine and pass exams (a state exam & NAVLE)
  • Only a licensed vet can diagnose diseases, perform surgery, or prescribe medication for animals
  • The vet tech and other supporting staff must work under the direct supervision of a licensed DVM
  • Some states require vets to attend a yearly quota of continuing education to maintain license (I.e. seminars, literature reviews, college courses, etc.)*
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14
Q

NAVLE

A

North American Veterinary Licensing Exam

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15
Q

CVTEA

A

Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities

accredits vet tech programs

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16
Q

Credentialed Veterinary Technician

A

Person who has completed AVMA-CVTEA accredited college program for vet techs and passed VTNE

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17
Q

Veterinary Technician

A

Graduated from 2 years AVMA-CVTEA accredited program (AS, AAS), but not yet obtained state licensure

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18
Q

Veterinary Technologist

A

Graduated from a 4 year AVMA-CVTEA accredited program (BA, BAS), but not yet obtained state licensure

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19
Q

NAVTA

A
  • National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
  • North American Veterinary Technician Association
  • Represents interests of VTs in US and Canada
  • Active members are graduated VTs
  • VAs can join as associate members (currently no association represents VAs only)
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20
Q

Approved Veterinary Assistant

A

Graduated from NAVTA approved vet assistant program and passed Approved Veterinary Assistant Examination

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21
Q

Veterinary Assistant (defined by AVMA)

A

Provide animals care with less training and skills than vet techs

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22
Q

DEA

A
  • Drug Enforcement Agency
  • Division of the Department of Justice
  • Enforces the Controlled Substance Act
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23
Q

Controlled Substance Act

A
  • Federal law that controls the manufacture, purchase, and distribution of certain medications
  • Requires any individual engaged in manufacture, sale, or dispensing of the meds to be licensed
  • Detailed written records must be kept of any controlled substances
  • Written records must be kept for 5 years
  • Controlled substances must be kept in a double-locked area
  • Inventory must be taken every two years
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24
Q

OSHA

A
  • Occupational Safety and Health Association
  • Enforces laws protecting workers from workplace hazards
  • Employers must commit to reducing workplace risk for employees
  • Display job safety and health protection posters
  • Record occupational injuries and illnesses
  • Provide written plans for job safety and health
  • Train employees in proper procedures
  • Provide personal protective equipment (PPE)
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25
Q

FDA

A
  • Food and Drug Administration

- Concerned with regulations that ensure safe and effective food, drugs, and medical devices

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26
Q

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

A

Primary law FDA exists to enforce

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27
Q

Center for Veterinary Medicine

A

FDA branch that monitors the animal health industry, administering the sections of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that pertain to animals

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28
Q

USDA

A
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Oversees import and export of animals
  • Develops programs to control disease in food animals
  • Oversees several agencies that regulate vet industry
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29
Q

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

A
  • USDA agency

- Charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act

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30
Q

Food Safety Inspection Service

A
  • Charged with ensuring the meat and poultry products are safe and labeled correctly
  • USDA agency
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31
Q

Agricultural Research Service Program and Extension Service Program

A
  • Vets are required to obtain and maintain USDA accreditation to legally write health certificates for animals traveling across state and international borders
  • USDA agency
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32
Q

Animal Welfare Act

A
  • Group of federal laws designed to ensure that lab animals receive the best possible care
  • Sets standards for warm-blooded animals EXCEPT mice and rats
  • Laws also apply to breeders who supply animals for research or education
  • Enforced by USDA agency
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33
Q

Laboratory Animal

A

Animals kept in research facilities, zoos, or educational institutions

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34
Q

Name the Animal Welfare Act standards for lab animal daily care and environmental conditions

A
  • Lab animal’s environment must be kept clean, at a comfortable temperature and humidity, and free of sharp objects
  • Specific requirements govern exercise or regular, consistent contact with other animals and humans for some species of lab animals
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35
Q

EPA

A
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Federal government agency
  • Several regulations that apply to vets
  • Regulations primarily aim to reduce environmental pesticide contamination
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36
Q

What vet practices must primarily comply with EPA regulations?

A

Vet practices with grooming services for parasite control must comply with EPA regulations

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37
Q

What do vet practices have to do with the State Department of Health?

A
  • They have to register X-ray machines (stationary, portable, and dental x-ray machines)
  • Vet practice required to inspect and calibrate the equipment periodically
38
Q

Requirements for a business license

A
  • According to state and local regulations
  • Get a general business license from the county clerk’s office
  • Vet practice must usually obtain a permit from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
39
Q

Henry Bergh

A
  • Horrified by treatment of animals in Russia, left diplomatic corps, went back to NYC
  • Decided to dedicate life to the prevention of cruelty to animals
  • Obtains a NY charter for first animal welfare organization in U.S. - ASPCA
  • Responsible for NY legislature approving the Animal Welfare Act of 1866
40
Q

ASPCA

A
  • American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • created by Henry Bergh
  • In 1888, when Bergh died, there were 33 animal welfare agencies in the U.S. and ASPCA had 15 state branches
41
Q

Small-Animal Private Practice

A
  • Treat companion animals, usually cats and dogs
  • Ultimate goal to provide services that help family pets live long & healthy lives
  • 2 vets, 3 VTs, 3 VAs
  • Most vet techs work in this type of practice
42
Q

Small-Animal and Exotics Practice

A
  • Treats companion animals and other small pets

- I.e. guinea pigs, ferrets, turtles, rabbits, birds, reptiles, etc.

43
Q

Preventative Healthcare

A
  • Includes regular physical exams and vaccinations against common diseases
    (prevent them getting sick or catch something small)
44
Q

Mobile Clinic

A
  • Vet travels directly to the client’s location to treat the pet
45
Q

What is a Veterinary Referral Practice?

A
  • Vet practice that specializes in one aspect of an animal’s care
  • Ophthalmology
  • Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Equine Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine
46
Q

What is a Specialty Veterinarian?

A
  • Vets who take certain courses and pass exams administered by a Specialty Board
  • They are a Board-Certified Specialist in that area
  • Referred by small-animal practitioner when an animal needs specialized or advanced care
  • Can specialize in: ophthalmology, oncology, internal medicine, equine medicine, emergency medicine
47
Q

What organization oversees the national licensing exams for vets and accredited VTs?

A

International Council for Veterinary Assessment

48
Q

In what area of the hospital do diagnostic procedures take place?

A

Laboratory

49
Q

Which tasks may an AAHA inspector perform to determine a hospital’s eligibility for accreditation?

A
  • Reviewing hospital procedures and policies
  • Examining medical records
  • Evaluating staff qualifications
50
Q

Large-Animal Practice

A
  • Vets who work exclusively with farm animals
  • Many have mobile clinics
  • Focus on disease prevention in large herds of animals
  • Some may limit to one species, others treat any farm animal
  • Develop programs to help herd managers increase milk or meat production :-(
50
Q

Mixed-Animal Practice

A
  • Refers to a vet clinic that treats both large and companion animals
  • Similar to small-animal hospitals
  • Often combine mobile practice with hospital design modifications that allow in-house treatment of some large-animal species
51
Q

What is Voluntary Professional Accreditation?

A
  • When animal hospitals voluntarily comply with guidelines more stringent than the law requires
  • These facilities commit to providing the best animal care available
  • Complying with these guidelines represents a great investment of time and money
  • AAHA & AAALAC
52
Q

AAHA

A
  • American Animal Hospital Association
  • Guidelines require vet practice to have top-quality equipment and highly trained staff
    !! Inspector examines every aspect of accredited vet hospital’s policies and procedures, records, and staff qualification!!
53
Q

AAALAC

A
  • Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
  • Stricter requirements for research facilities
  • Like AAHA, exclusively evaluates all operational aspects of the biomedical research facility
54
Q

What are the things that a vet can do because of their medical degree/license that a VT or VA cannot do?

A
  • Diagnose diseases
  • Prescribe medications
  • Performing surgeries
55
Q

What are the duties of a VT?

A
  • Perform physical exams
  • Prepare animals/equipment for surgery
  • Take radiographs
  • Clean/polish teeth
  • Collect blood samples
  • Perform lab tests
  • Anesthetize animals
  • Perform prescribed treatments
  • Educate clients about animal nutrition/training
  • Ensure clients receive desired services
  • In some clinics, may perform reception/management duties
56
Q

What’s a VT Specialist and what are the specialty areas?

A
  • VTs who have specialized through additional postgraduate training
  • Advanced Vet Dentistry
  • Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
  • Vet Anesthesia
  • Zoo Vet Technology
57
Q

What are the duties of a VA?

A
  • Restrain animals
  • Understand animal behavior
  • Clean/maintain equipment
  • Position animals during procedures
  • Develop x-rays/maintain darkroom supplies
  • Count, measure, package, label prescriptions
  • Receptionist work
  • Handle lab results
58
Q

What is a VPM and what are their duties?

A
  • Veterinary Practice Manager
  • Responsible for all business aspects of the practice
  • Hiring/interviewing new staff
  • Advertising new available positions
  • Inventory maintenance, order supplies, pay bills, employee payroll
  • Handle legal requirements
  • Smaller clinics = DVM may be VPM
  • Larger clinics = separate VPM or VT with additional training in small business management
59
Q

What does the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association do?

A
  • Offer a national exam for certification for VPMs
60
Q

What is a Client Care Coordinator?

A
  • Vet receptionist
  • Answer telephone, schedule appts, greet clients
  • File records, collect/record payments
  • First person client meets/sees coming through the door
  • Mostly learned on the job
61
Q

Kennel Aide

A
  • Trained on the job
  • May work at vet hospital kennels or boarding kennels
  • American Boarding Kennel Association offers training programs
  • Keep kennels clean/stocked, have basic knowledge of animal behavior, help vet staff observe hospitalized patients
62
Q

Outpatient Procedure

A
  • Involve short-term admission of patients for the duration of the procedure and recovery
  • All patients discharged by the end of the day
  • Routine vaccinations, removal of sutures, or annual physical exams
  • Clients DO see and enter outpatient areas during their visit
63
Q

Inpatient Procedures

A
  • Require patient to be admitted to a vet hospital overnight
  • Patient monitored closely after the procedure and during recovery
  • Patients hospitalized for medical treatments are also considered inpatients
  • Dentistry, surgery
  • Clients DON’T usually have access to inpatient areas
64
Q

Reception Area

A
  • Where clients are first greeted when they enter a practice
  • Practice’s coordination center
  • Check-in, payments, phone calls, etc.
  • May find displays of pet products, brochures, video programs for clients, etc.
  • Should be well lit, comfortable, cheery
65
Q

Examination Room

A
  • Record animal’s temp., pulse, respiratory rate
  • VA may restrain animal while VT collects blood samples or other tests
  • May also complete a physical exam
66
Q

Surgical Suite

A
  • Typically 3 rooms: Prep room, Operating room, Recovery Room
67
Q

Treatment Area

A
  • AKA: inpatient area
  • Inpatients receive medication or diagnostic procedures
  • Outpatients may be brought back for treatment (I.e. bandage change or sample collection
  • Clients sometimes visit this area w pet
  • VT usually supervises this area
68
Q

Laboratory Area

A
  • Used for clinical diagnostic procedures
  • May be a separate room or part of treatment area
  • Basic lab has microscope and specialized equipment for analyzing blood samples
  • VT collects blood sample, processes and tests samples, make notes on patients record
69
Q

Pharmacy

A
  • Where medication/related supplies are stored
  • VT responsible for maintaining inventory/ensure meds are used in the order they’re received
  • Small fridge for vaccines or other meds
  • VT needs to know general knowledge of meds names and types
  • VERY IMPORTANT that meds are prepared and labeled correctly
70
Q

Hospital Ward

A
  • Confinement area for pre- and post-surgical inpatients and those awaiting, undergoing, or recovering from medical treatments
  • Clean environment important to reduce possibilities of spreading diseases
71
Q

Isolation Ward

A
  • Consists of a few small, medium, large cages
  • Cages insulate patients that might have easily transmittable diseases, these animals kept separate from other animals in hospital ward
  • PPE to reduce spread of diseases
  • Must be clean as well
72
Q

Radiograph

A
  • The image generated by the x-ray machine

- Can be film or digital

73
Q

Dosimetry Badge/Dosimeter

A
  • Measures the radiation that the wearer has been exposed to
  • Needs to be worn when taking x-rays
  • Needs to be placed on the collar area of the lead apron facing the radiation source
74
Q

Darkroom

A
  • Used to develop x-ray film

- Usually a small room arranged for easy access to equipment from the center

75
Q

Automatic vs. Manual X-ray Processing Equipment

A

Auto - film loaded into the automatic processor, which develops and dries in a few minutes
Manual - way more time and knowledge, x-ray film goes through tank of processing chemicals (v hazardous)

76
Q

Digital Radiographs

A
  • No processing or development

- Images are transmitted directly to software for viewing

77
Q

Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT)

A
  • Oversee the daily care, feeding, and comfort of research animals in biomedical research companies or educational institution
  • Notify researchers of any abnormal conditions that affect the animals
  • May collect blood samples, take x-rays, etc. while supervised by vet
78
Q

AALAS

A
  • American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
  • Offers the certification exam for LATs
  • Graduates of VT programs must have experience working with lab animals to be eligible for the LAT cert exam
79
Q

Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT)

A
  • Helps LATs care for research facility animals

- AALAS offers certification of ALATs

80
Q

What is preventative attention?

A
  • Checking animals every day for signs that indicate illnesses
81
Q

Animal Control Officer (ACO)

A
  • Responsible for stray animal control and enforcement of animal license and leash laws
  • Employed by state or county agencies
  • Might investigate charges of animal abuse or cruelty
  • Some training programs offered by humane societies and some state colleges
82
Q

Zookeeper

A
  • Responsible for daily feeding and observation of captive wild animals
  • Most have 4 year degrees in zoology or biology
  • Often work with one or two species
  • Must have detailed knowledge of nutritional and environmental needs for the species they are working with
  • Must be alert for the slightest indications of illness or stress in these animals
83
Q

Wildlife Rehabilitator

A
  • Care for injured or orphaned wild animals
  • MUST BE LICENSED, keeping wild animal without a license is illegal
  • Works closely w vets
  • Goal is to return animal to its natural environment
  • Keeps animal until it regains health, releases it back to habitat OR find long-term care if release is impossible
84
Q

Professionalism

A
  • The conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person
  • Way you present yourself, attitude towards the job, appropriate attire, etc.
  • For vets, part is also following ethical codes
85
Q

What are the advantages of being a member of a professional association?

A
  • Help to stay informed on trends in the field
  • Provide continuing education
  • Offer a means of networking (job opportunities and solve problems together)
  • Some are politically oriented, lobbying legislators about laws affecting vet medical practice
86
Q

Name some associations that VTs can join

A
  • Association of Veterinary Dental Technicians
  • Veterinary Laboratory Association
  • National Association of Vet Techs in America
  • American Animal Hospital Association
  • Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
  • Academy of Vet Techs in Anesthesia and Analgesia
  • Academy of Vet Emergency and Critical Care Techs and Nurses
87
Q

Ethical Code

A
  • Set of standards defining what’s good and bad for the profession
  • All professions abide by this & professionals agree to uphold the ethical code
  • Intentionally general on certain points to allow professionals to use their judgement in specific circumstances
88
Q

Principles of Veterinary Ethics

A
  • The official ethical code for vets
  • Written by members of AVMA
  • First adopted in 1867, only been modified a few times
  • Vets also governed by the general values of the Vet’s Oath
89
Q

What is the Vet Tech Code of Ethics?

A
  • Adopted in 1989
  • This and Principles of Vet Ethics embody principles that govern practice of vet medicine
  • Describes what the profession considers morally correct
  • Describes appropriate professional behavior and attitudes
  • Delineates training requirements, continuing education, and even services a vet practice should require
90
Q

Veterinary Technician Code of Ethics

A
  • Aid society and animals by providing excellent care and services for animals
  • Prevent and relieve the suffering of animals
  • Promote public health by assisting with the control of zoonotic diseases and informing the public about these diseases
  • Assume accountability for individual professional actions and judgements
  • Protect confidential information provided by clients
  • Safeguard the public and the profession against individuals deficient in professional competence or ethics
  • Assist with efforts to ensure conditions of employment consistent with the excellent care for animals
  • Remain competent in veterinary technology through commitment to lifelong learning
  • Collaborate with members of the veterinary medical profession in efforts to ensure quality healthcare services for all animals
91
Q

Policy Statement

A
  • Designed to reflect changing trends and concerns

- Policy statements issued by AVMA represent the unanimity of opinion on a specific topic among vets in the US

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